Harry Potter walked from his kitchen into his bedroom. It had been a long day at the Ministry, and all he could think about was a hot shower and a warm bed. He had finally finished his training as an Auror earlier that year, and had found the job tougher than he had imagined. The amount of vigilant Death Eaters still out there were outstanding, and he was often confused as to why someone would follow a master who had fallen years ago. Voldemort wasn't coming back, but those bloody idiots couldn't seem to get that through their thick skulls.

He turned on the shower, relaxed instantly by the familiar sound. He placed his glasses onto the bathroom counter and began undressing. The moment the water hit his skin, his aching muscles began to unwind. He grinned to himself as he ran a hand through his soaked hair. Just as he was reaching for the shampoo, he heard a loud banging at the front door.

"What the hell?" he grunted, reaching for a towel and stepping out of the still running shower to see who it was. Only his closest friends knew where he lived, so there were only a handful of possibilities as to who was trying to knock the door from its hinges. He angrily threw it open with an equally angry "Yeah?" only to find Evelyn Crow standing there, looking completely lost.

"Evey?" he stepped back to let her into his modest flat, taking notice of the bag she carried in her right hand.

"Hey there, Harry! Taking a shower I presume? Or were you just hoping to seduce me?" she giggled and gestured to the towel wrapped around his waist. He blushed a little, but was used to Evelyn by now, and knew that her cheery disposition was a lie.

"What happened, Evey? Why are you here?" he gestured to the bag and she shrugged, dropping it onto the floor beside the couch.

"I got sick of living with that heathen you call a godfather. We fought so much I just couldn't stand it anymore. Mind if I crash here for a night or two while I try to find a flat?" She smiled hopefully at him and he couldn't help but laugh. It was well known that she and Sirius did not get along whatsoever. He had always been a little confused as to why she had lived with him in the first place.

"Of course you can stay. Hell, you can move in here if you want. I've been a little lonesome since Ron moved in with Hermione."

She flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and peppering his cheek with little kisses.

"Oh thank you Harry! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I promise I'll clean dishes sometimes and pay my half of the rent every now and again!" He laughed loudly, and wrapped an arm around her, squeezing her to him. "Augh! Harry! You're getting me soaked! Go back to your shower, I know where Ron's old room is."

He let her go, but not without planting a swift kiss on the top of her head. He smirked at the hint of a blush and began to walk down the hallway. Just as he reached his bedroom door he heard her call out "I'm making dinner tonight!"

Later that evening he found himself sitting at the table, watching her. She ate slowly, as if avoiding the conversation to come. But he didn't want to wait any longer, and decided to just ask outright.

"So what did Sirius do this time? It must have been worse than anything before, if it drove you out of there. Am I going to have to hex him?" She smiled slightly as she twirled her pasta around her fork.

"It wasn't any one thing really. I just got fed up. A girl can only handle so much stress at a time, and living with Sirius only added to the stress I already felt from work. We're just not compatible and he drove me crazy. And he never cleaned up after himself." She never looked him directly in the eye, and Harry knew that that wasn't a good sign. Whatever their last fight was about, it must have been bad. He would have to talk to Sirius about it, because she obviously wasn't going to tell him.

"Be honest with me, Evelyn, are you ok?" He looked at her, trying to catch her eye. She finally looked up and her dark, almost black eyes met with his emerald green orbs. She slowly nodded her head and answered, "Yes, I'm going to be fine."

And with that she got up from her seat and took her plate to the sink. He believed what she had said, but got the feeling that there was more than she was letting on. He let it go, though, only wanting to spend the evening catching up with her, not spend it in awkward silences and fruitless questions.

"So what do you want to do tonight?" He asked as he joined her at the sink. He watched as her brow line creased and she pondered. He smiled a little to himself, realizing yet again how cute she looked.

"Let's watch a movie." She suggested, and he agreed. Though Evey hadn't been Muggle-born, her mother had, and she had insisted that Evelyn live a little bit of both worlds. He was happy that he could answer her calls and not be left deaf like he was when Ron tried to use a mobile.

"I'm going to put on my jams and I'll be right back." He nodded as she walked towards what was now her new room. He finished rinsing the dishes and went and threw on some sleep pants and an old tee shirt. She was already on the couch by the time he reached the lounge. She had let her hair down and it fluttered around her face and shoulders. She was wearing one of his old tee shirts that she had taken from his trunk in fifth year. It had been his favorite, but he liked seeing her in it, so he willingly gave it up.

She curled her legs underneath her, and he could see a hint of her shorts peeking out from the hem of the shirt. She would be the death of him. He plopped down onto the cushion beside her and she automatically leaned into him. They had been close from the beginning, just as he and Hermione were. But when he wrapped an arm casually around her shoulder, he felt a jolt that he never felt when Hermione was near. Nor any other girl.

They spent the evening watching what movies they could find on the television, not really caring what it was they were watching. They talked a lot. Mostly about work or if the other had seen Ron or Hermione or Ginny lately. At one point they decided to have a small party, as they had not seen their friends in quite some time. As the hours wore on they parted ways to get some sleep. She hugged him goodnight and he gave her an extra squeeze, letting her know that he was happy to have her around.

The next morning he found a plate of steaming pancakes waiting for him on the kitchen table. Beside the glass of orange juice was a quickly scribbled not signed with a smiley face. He smiled to himself before digging in.