"You can't be serious."
Harry lowers his eyes and rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. He hates this moment; the moment when he has to tell someone who cares for him that he no longer wants anything to do with them.
"I don't understand," Josh continues. "What went wrong? Where is this coming from?"
Harry sighs and looks up to meet the anguished brown gaze of his lover. "Will you accept it's not you it's me?"
Josh's eyes immediately harden. "And what exactly about you is it that is making you never want to see me again?"
Harry shrugs and shoves his hands into his pockets, just wanting this to be over quickly. He decides on honesty to hurry it along. "I'm bored."
"Bored?"
"Yes."
Josh opens his mouth incredulously then shuts it again. "Bored…" he repeats, with another shake of the head. "What are you bored with?"
"I'm bored with us," Harry replies swiftly. "I'm bored with this relationship. I'm bored of having the same monotonous routine. There are no surprises anymore, nothing new."
"I can't believe I'm hearing this." He's starting to get angry now. "We've been together for four months and now you're fucking bored with me?"
Harry nods, meeting his gaze. "Yeah, I don't do long term, I always get bored."
Josh's eyes suddenly narrow. "You mean you get scared."
Harry laughs sharply and shakes his head. "That's not the first time I've heard that, and I suspect it won't be the last. I'm not scared – I'm bored. That's all there is to it. If that makes me fucked up so be it, but I can't be fixed so don't bother trying to prolong something that will never work."
Josh's cheeks flush in outrage.
Harry waits for the forthcoming tirade but lifts his dark brows in surprise when Josh suddenly spins on his heel and storms from Harry's flat, slamming the door succinctly behind him.
Harry releases the breath he's been holding and smiles tightly in relief. That went better than expected.
Harry walks over to the window and looks out into the overcast sky. He waits to feel something, an emptiness or sadness at the death of yet another relationship.
Harry smiles wryly, there's always an emptiness, regardless of his relationship status, always a part of him that never feels whole. Filling his life with friends or lovers or countless travelling never seems to heal it. Sometimes these things provide a welcome distraction but never a cure.
Harry's green eyes track the passers-by, absently checking for the departing brown coat of his now ex-lover. He doesn't see him among the masses of tourists and Sunday morning shoppers.
London is always stifling in the summer months; too many people, he thinks.
Harry sighs and decides to wander out for a coffee. Maybe he should go abroad again for awhile, escape the city for a few months.
He snatches a ring of keys from a hook in the kitchen and opens the door to his flat, ready to go out and get some much-needed fresh air.
Harry takes a surprised step backwards, staring in shock. "Wha…?"
"Hello to you too Potter."
Harry blinks at the tall lithe form of Draco Malfoy casually standing in the hallway. "Malfoy? What are you doing here?" he asks, too stunned to even think clearly.
Draco smirks as he lifts one brow. "Are you going to invite me in?"
Harry blinks and gives his head a little shake. "No I'm not going to invite you in," he snaps.
"I now see why your last guest ran for the hills," Draco replies pertly.
Harry instantly feels enraged. "If that's all I'll just be off-"
"Wait." Draco licks his lips, suddenly looking uncharacteristically unsure. "Where are you going?"
Harry gapes at him. "Out. What do you want Malfoy? How do you even know where I live?"
"Out where?" he persists, ignoring the question.
Harry sighs and runs a hand through his tangled hair. No one riled him more than Draco Malfoy when he was young and it looks like nothing has changed. "For coffee if you must know."
Harry blinks at the charming smile that suddenly spreads across the blond's face.
"May I join you?" he asks smoothly.
"I would ask why but I'm guessing you would simply avoid the question," Harry says, growing weary. "It's too early for this, I'm going now."
Harry walks past Malfoy, shutting the door behind him, and then proceeds toward the lift.
Draco silently follows along beside him.
"What are you, my stalker?" Harry says as he stabs at the call button in annoyance.
Draco smirks and glances sideways at him. "You can't stop me from following you to a public café Potter."
"That is definitely stalker talk," Harry mutters.
Draco smiles and calmly follows him into the lift.
Harry pushes the button for the ground floor and the lift smoothly takes off. Harry firmly stares straight ahead at the sealed doors, lips pressed together in a thin line.
A strange feeling like electricity in the air suddenly prickles the back of his neck, lifting his hair.
Harry blinks and looks around him with a frown. He notices Malfoy taking a couple of steps back to stand against the far wall of the lift.
"Do you feel that?" Harry asks, glancing up at the lights above them.
The lift stops suddenly on level two and the doors open to allow an elderly woman to pass through, a small white dog clutched in her arms.
Harry absently returns her pleasant smile and immediately notices the sudden change in the air when the doors close behind her. The crackling electricity seems to have disappeared.
Harry glances at Malfoy out of the corner of his eye to see the Slytherin still pressed against the far wall, grey eyes glued firmly on the maroon carpeted floor.
The bell suddenly dings and the doors open upon the foyer.
Harry stands back to let the woman out first then strides out, uncaring as to whether Malfoy is behind him or not. He continues out onto the busy street then up the footpath towards his favourite little coffee shop a couple of blocks away.
Harry walks at his usual brisk pace and feels the tension leave his body when it appears that Malfoy has chosen not to follow him after all.
Harry orders a large vanilla latte before settling down into the brown leather couch in the window of the cafe, picking up a local newspaper to occupy his time. He breathes a sigh of relief as his body relaxes into the worn comfortable furniture.
He's not two paragraphs into the first article when he feels a presence standing over him.
His heart drops into his stomach as he looks up into familiar grey eyes. "You found me," he states flatly.
His annoyance seems to amuse Malfoy to no end, who smiles in response. "May I join you?" he asks politely.
Harry sighs in resignation and sets aside the newspaper. "Fine sit. Let's hear it Malfoy. What could you possibly want with me?"
Draco's silver-grey eyes darken for a moment before he smirks in response. "Your ever so pleasant company of course."
Harry narrows his eyes at him as he sits back and takes a sip of his steaming coffee. "What do you really want?"
"I'm quite serious Potter," Draco replies, crossing one ankle over his knee and looking perfectly at ease in the crowded muggle café.
Harry sets his porcelain coffee cup back down and eyes him speculatively. "And just why would you suddenly desire my company Malfoy?"
"I can't answer that – yet," he replies mysteriously. "Just know that I am completely serious, that I don't wish to cause you any harm or public embarrassment, and that I have only your best interest at heart."
Harry's eyes widen in surprise. "Then you can't possibly be the real Draco Malfoy. You haven't done your homework because the Malfoy I know, or knew, would never have spoken to me like that. Just tell me the truth Malfoy so that I can return to my life."
Draco tilts his blond head curiously. "I told you I can't tell you the truth yet. You must accept my offer of friendship at face value."
Harry narrows his eyes then reclines back into his seat once more. "I don't wish to be friends with someone who can't be honest with me. Sorry, no deal."
Draco's eyes tighten. "And what life is it that you so desperately want to return to? A life with no friends or lovers?"
Harry smiles grimly in triumph. "Ah now there's the Malfoy I remember."
Draco shakes his head and takes a moment to compose himself. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you."
Harry gapes in shock. "Did I really just hear an apology from the lips of Draco Malfoy?"
Draco looks vaguely insulted as he survey's Harry's incredulous expression. "Yes," he finally replies tightly.
"Wow…" Harry utters, looking impressed. He takes another long drink from his coffee while Draco watches him silently. Harry sets the cup back down and tilts his head to one side as he looks back up at his strange companion. "You seem to know a lot about me Malfoy; where I live, how many friends I have, number of boyfriends…"
Draco arches one brow. "If you're trying to shock me Potter, it won't work. I do know a lot about you. I'm quite aware of your sexual preferences, as well as the fact that you've never had a 'boyfriend,' as you put it. A boyfriend would suggest some sort of bonded relationship, a connection between two people – other than sexual."
Harry crosses his arms over his chest, meeting Malfoy's shrewd gaze. "You have done your homework, very good Malfoy. I suppose you want me to be embarrassed, sorry to disappoint but I am living my life exactly how I want to."
"That sounded a tad defensive Potter," Draco answers in amusement. "I would think you're growing weary of such a flighty life-style; nothing permanent, no job, no lover, no companions."
Harry snorts. "And I suppose this is where you come in? To rescue me from my soulless existence?"
Draco's lips twitch in amusement as he slowly nods in affirmation.
Harry can't help but laugh. "Have you turned into some sort of do-gooder Malfoy?"
Draco sighs and abruptly uncrosses his leg. "I am going to get some tea, hopefully when I return you'll be a little more willing to take me seriously."
Harry watches as Draco stands and threads his way through the tables and chairs to the front counter to order. He can't help but notice that quite a few eyes watch the blond's progress besides his own.
Harry tilts his head to one side, examining his one-time nemesis from school. The blond is taller and broader but still has long lean limbs and an inborn grace about his movements. He's wearing muggle clothing, expensive muggle clothing from the look of it, and his shining hair is brushed neatly into place. Everything about him oozes confidence and money. He reminds Harry of Lucius, without the extreme arrogance and cold-heartedness that was always gleaming in those cold eyes.
Draco Malfoy is nothing if not intriguing, especially this mystery reason for suddenly trying to befriend him. Harry didn't trust him one bit, but he is a nice distraction to Harry's recent break-up with Josh. Perhaps Malfoy could occupy his time for awhile…
Harry smiles as Draco returns and once more sits opposite him. Draco looks surprised at Harry's pleasant expression.
"I don't know what you're up to Malfoy but I'm intrigued," Harry says bluntly. "As you said yourself, my life is a bit… dull and I could use some entertainment."
Draco smiles, silver eyes glowing. "Oh I will definitely entertain you Potter," he says quietly.
Harry blinks as Draco flashes him a predatory look before taking a sip of his hot tea.
Is Malfoy flirting with him?!
Harry's smile falters and he quickly picks up his own cup and takes a sip, watchful green eyes staring at Draco over the rim.
What is that plotting Slytherin up to?
