Chapter Four

After a long day at the office punctuated with two irritating ministry employees wandering around and performing "routine" facility inspections, a minor potions mishap that left a hole in his table and black soot all over him, and another round of debate over his lack of relationship with either Pansy or Harry, Draco simply wanted to go home. He wanted to slip into a nice hot bath and have a good satisfying wank before eating dinner and relaxing in front of his fire. But as he stepped through the floo into his foyer, Draco quickly put all of those thoughts from his mind. Sitting on his sofa was the very last person he expected to see. Severus Snape.

His beloved godfather and mentor looked like he was having a very rough evening. In fact, he looked like he was a bit drunk which was not something that Draco was expecting at all.

"Severus," He was a bit concerned if he were honest. He expected that Severus would be at school teaching as he always preferred or visiting his parents in France. "It's a surprise, though no less pleasurable."

"Draco," Severus slurred. "I needed to see you. I have a very important favor to ask of you."

His heart leapt into his chest and Severus turned his distressed eyes on Draco once again. "I've gotten married."

"But that's wonderful, Uncle Sev." Draco said. "Who is she?"

"He's Remus Lupin." He explained. "We've been having an affair since the war."

"I see?"

Severus' tear stained face scrunch up in sadness. "I've inherited the Prince estates since my uncle Randolph passed during the war, and I would like to add Remus to the family records. Would it be possible for us to use your family's solicitor for maximum discretion? I don't want Remus to become a spectacle for the Prophet or any of those other tabloids."

"Does Remus know about the estate's stipulations? You would have to obtain an heir whether through natural means or blood adoption within the year."

"I was afraid to tell him." Severus told him tearfully. "Remus is so worried about raising a child since he has lycanthropy."

"Well, you need to tell him." Draco said firmly. "But you are more than welcome to utilize Duckworth's services at anytime."

He listened to Severus talk about his relationship with the former defense teacher for a bit as he wandered about the room pouring himself a fire whisky and calling for an elf to bring Severus some tea and biscuits.

"You've listened to me prattle on for ages, Draco." Severus finally sighed. "How have you been? Any new potions for me to look over?"

"Actually, I have been working on a few things that you can look at a bit later, once you've regained all your faculties." Draco said from his place on the opposite sofa where he lounged comfortably.

"Are you seeing anyone, Draco?" Severus asked curiously, "I'd heard rumors that you and Pansy severed your betrothal."

Draco stretched languidly. "We did, and you wouldn't believe me for a moment if I told you who I had dinner with last night, not that it matters of course."

Severus chuckled. "I'm certain your parents are not aware of your new arrangement with Pansy?" Draco nodded and hoped that he could keep that information from them for at least another year. "So who did you seduce last evening then?"

Taking a deep drink from his whisky he leveled his eyes with Severus and replied. "Potter."

"That's very amusing Draco, but you don't need to lie to me. You can tell me I won't ridicule you." Severus told him.

"I know, Uncle Sev." Draco sighed. "And I did have dinner with Harry last night, though I think it was by far the worst date either of us has ever had."

Severus could not keep the shock from his face. He may have made peace with the other man after the war, but that didn't mean he particularly liked the other man. "So you went out with Potter. Sounds like you cut your losses afterwards then?" Draco nodded. "Harry and I aren't cut out for interaction it seems."

Snape chuckled at that. "He can be difficult. Remus still has dinner with him once or twice a month, and always comes home like he's been confunded."

After another hour or so of conversation, Severus bid Draco a good night and went home so he could attempt to explain their future child hunt, leaving the exhausted blond blissfully alone. Draco Apparated upstairs into his bathroom, not wanting to bother even walking that far. He stripped down quickly and stepped into the luxurious tub to soak away the frustrations of the day as he'd planned to earlier. He slid down until the only part of him above the water was his face and luxuriated in the warmth of the water. As he lay there boneless with pleasurable relaxation, Draco ran through the events of the day slowly only to come back to the same frustrating realization. He'd been thinking of Harry all day.

Draco may have been lounging away in a sumptuous bath, but Harry was running late as usual. One of his patients crashed on his way out the door and Harry was stuck attending the elderly wizard for another hour until he stabilized. Then he'd spent that miserable hour at Madam Malkin's being gripped at by Mrs. Weasley for his clothes leaving him without the time to prepare anything for his usual Wednesday night dinner with Ron and Hermione. Not wanting to deal with the hassle of stopping at the grocery and going home to through something together before flooing to Hermione's flat, Harry Apparated right to The Hogshead and slipped inside.

"Mr. Potter." A huge grin split Goyle's face as Harry walked up to the maitre-de's podium.

"Mr. Goyle," Harry smiled. "I would like to pick up salad and bread for three to go if possible."

"Absolutely." Goyle told him and disappeared into the kitchen. He returned in a few minutes with two ornately embossed paper bags that Harry paid for and tipped lavishly. "Are you having dinner with Draco?"

Harry shook his head. "I'm never seeing Draco again."

"You two are complete idiots." Goyle muttered. Harry laughed and walked out into the cool evening air quickly apparating directly over to Hermione's.

"So what happened last night?" Hermione asked as she bustled about the kitchen putting food onto the table when Harry walked in. "Is this dinner or an interrogation at the Wizengamot?"

Ron laughed as he walked into the room carrying dessert and two bottles of wine. "Care to help me out mate?" Harry asked him in desperation.

"Not this time." Ron grinned. "I would like to know what went on as well."

With a sigh of resignation, Harry flopped down into a seat next at the table and took a moment to admire Hermione's lovely vase full of daisy Harry was sure were cut from the little garden on her porch that Neville charmed to bloom year round. Sometimes he wished he had time for little things like flowers and such in his own house. As he began opening the bags with him, Harry listened to Hermione and Ron banter back and forth.

"Oi," Ron cried when he saw the name on the paper bags. "When did The Hogshead get such nice stuff? I didn't think that Aberforth really cared about what things looked like, although I don't know what you would need from there."

Pulling out the boxes of salad and bread, Harry began to explain. "Aberforth doesn't own The Hogshead anymore."

"Really?" Hermione asked curiously. "I didn't know that." Hermione was once again a bit peeved that someone had found out an important tidbit of information before her. Some things never change, Harry thought happily.

"Well who owns it now?" Ron asked as he sniffed the bread and began to salivate with anticipation. "It sure smells good."

"It's amazing." Harry promised. "Crabbe and Goyle bought it after we left school, they turned it into a restaurant."

"Are you sure this stuff is safe to eat then?" Harry glared at Ron before nodding that it was indeed safe for consumption.

Hermione put out the wine and sat down at the head of her beautifully appointed table followed by Ron who sat at her other side. "So this is where Draco took you last night then?"

Harry nodded and blushed. "He helped them get the restaurant underway and eats there often."

"Well then, Mate." Ron prodded as he sipped from his wine. "How was it?"

Harry blushed hotter. "Do we really need to talk about this now? Why don't you tell me about your evening?"

Hermione shook her head vigorously as she dished out food onto everyone's plates. "You are the one who went to dinner with the illustrious Draco Malfoy, you tell first."

Heaving a sigh, Harry began to regale them of his evening. "Well when I went over to ask Draco out, I stopped under the landing, you know to listen for a bit and see if he was still the same managing git he's always been." Ron and Hermione nodded in understanding. "When I got over there I heard Terry bet Draco ten galleons he couldn't shag me in a month." Harry watched them freeze bites of food halfway to their mouths.

"That dirty son-of-a-bitch" Ron snarled. "You're taking the piss right?"

Leveling Ron with a look that Harry usually saved for his dumbest patients he replied. "I made you move down the bar so Draco could pick me up because I thought I could use him as a date to Gin's wedding, but I realized it would probably come to murder if I tried to put up with him for three weeks. So I let him take me to dinner and cut my losses afterwards."

"That's all?" Hermione asked after swallowing a bite of salad.

"Well…" Harry hedged.

Ron cocked his head curiously. "Well?"

"He offered to see me home but I told him no, obviously, and he reached for me when I tried to apparate and we ended up on my stoop together."

Hermione sat up ramrod straight. "You didn't get splinched did you?"

"No." Harry said between bites of lamb. "But that's it, what happened with the two of you last night."

Ron perked up. "Oh we let Blaise and Theo pick us up."

Harry grinned wickedly as he narrowed his eye on Ron in particular. "And how was that? I assume you went with Blaise without much reluctance?"

The redhead glared at him sheepishly, but couldn't hide his happy million watt smile. "Yeah we did, and were going out again on Friday. He's just so handsome and charming " Ron sighed.

"Merlin's beard." Harry gaped. "Who are you; and, what have you done with my best mate?"

Hermione giggled at their antics. "I think Ron just got all of his Christmases at once that's all. Besides it was a lovely evening on all accounts."

Harry turned to look at his other best friend. "You took Theo home with you last night?"

"Of course not. I simply allowed him to walk me home and we had coffee that's all. I'm not loose, Harry."

Harry and Ron both laughed hysterically at her comment. True they knew Hermione better than anyone and she was as straight laced as always, well to a point, she just enjoyed teasing the men she went out with a bit."

Half an hour later, the salad was gone and Hermione was putting the left over lamb chops into the refrigerator while Ron dished out large helpings of ice-cream that he'd picked up on his way over.

"Well, at least Draco was willing to accompany you home, that's a big thing with purebloods isn't it?" She directed the ending question at Ron who nodded an affirmative.

"And then he told me to have a nice life and left." Harry added. "I didn't like him and he didn't like me, the only difference is we were able to spend two hours together without brawling like we did in school."

"Well I think that the whole 'Have a nice life' thing is a front." Ron replied. "If you're not careful he'll charm you into bed and you'll be no better off than you were after Terry, albeit thoroughly shagged."

Harry frowned at Ron's change in temperament. "If you don't trust Draco, how can you trust Blaise their best mates?"

"Blaise is not like Draco," Ron said defensively. "He insists that Draco is just misunderstood. Besides Blaise has been interested in me since Hogwarts and I'm sure he's a good guy."

Hermione looked to Harry for support. "But you barely know him, Ron."

Harry inclined his head in agreement.

Ron would not be swayed. "Listen, Blaise is a good guy, he was never implicated in anything during the war, and he's didn't even get fresh lat night, even though I know he's had a thing for me since school. I'm going out with him again on Friday night."

"He asked you out again?" Harry asked.

Hermione scoffed. "Blaise asked Ron out for the rest of his life. He's blind for Ron."

"You're serious about this?" Harry was shocked.

Ron grinned broadly a happy flush on his handsome freckled face. "If things go well I think I will even tell Mum and Dad that I fancy blokes. It would be a bit of shock if I eloped and brought home a husband without a warning and all."

"You think it is going to go that far?" Harry couldn't hide his shock or concern.

Hermione smirked. "Blaise Zabini would fight rabid trolls for Ron." Harry snickered and Ron blushed bright crimson. "It's kind of sad really and romantic at the same time."

"Don't tell me you're in love with Theo two then?" Harry groaned.

"Of course not." Hermione snapped. "I may be a hopeless romantic, but I'm also careful, calculating, and selective. Theo is good looking, and exceptionally intelligent, and he quite obviously adores me so I'm going to go from there at my own pace."

"Well don't ask them anything on my account because I have no plans of ever seeing Draco again, unless absolutely necessary." Harry told them.

Ron swallowed his mouthful of ice cream. "Well he'll be at the club on Friday with Blaise and Theo I'm sure."

"Then I'll stay home, I could use the sleep anyway."

"We can go some where else then if you want." Hermione said. "We don't have to go with Ron."

"No don't worry about it. I'm sure we can be civil with each other." Harry finally consented.

"Are you sure Draco made that bet." Hermione asked. "He was pretty despicable at school, but I don't really think that is like him at all. It seems a bit low class for him."

"I heard him," Harry snarled. "He said piece of cake." It was like Draco didn't even think I would put up a fight, he thought, almost like he was doing me a favor by shagging me.

Ron held up his hands in surrender. "Look I think that we may have just assumed the worst, Blaise said he would trust Malfoy with his life, and I trust Blaise."

Harry scrubbed a hand over his face in agitation.

"Just hear me out mate," Ron continued. "Blaise says that Draco has really changed, maybe he has. I mean I'm not like I was back then either, besides once we got talking and I let my guard down he was wonderful."

"I think you've both lost your minds." Harry said before getting up and heading over to the fireplace. "I've got early rounds tomorrow, so I need to head home and get some sleep."

That Friday saw Draco sitting on a leather couch at the nightclub sending careful glances toward the door in case Pansy showed up or even worse, Potter. Blaise was about seven feet away gazing at Ron as if he could devour the redhead. Ron was watching Blaise carefully and trying to remind himself that he couldn't jump the Italian in public. Draco shook his head. Watching Blaise make a move on the weasel was almost painful.

Theo sat down next to him and handed him a drink after giving Hermione her own frilly spritzer or what ever it was. They seemed to be getting on marvelously well discussing something about Transfiguration or what not. Then Draco's heart thudded to a stop. Harry walked in dressed like liquid sin.

"You should get on that," Theo said nodding toward the door.

"What?" Draco asked absently. He was still too mesmerized by Harry to pay full attention to anything that Theo might be saying. His eyes followed Harry as he moved over to talk to Blaise and Ron, watching every one of Harry's facial expressions carefully. "I'm loosing the plot." He muttered more to himself than to Theo.

"Huh?" Theo was busy surreptitiously ogling Hermione's breasts in her filmy peach blouse which earned him a sharp elbow in the ribs from Draco.

"What's you're problem?" Theo hissed turning away from the object of his desire. "It's not like you to stare without moving in for the kill. Where's that Malfoy magic?"

"What?" Draco snapped. "I was merely watching Blaise bat his eyelashes at the weasel for like the thousandth time in the last hour."

Theo huffed. "Sure you were." Then he looked over and was equally flabbergasted by the interaction between the two men. "Yep, Blaise might as well be footing it to the green now, he's done for."

Draco nodded as he sipped from his glass of champagne. "Somehow I don't think you're looking that much better." He muttered sullenly.

"Yeah well gotta go sometime." Theo replied before turning his full attention back to Hermione.

Stretching out his legs, Draco watched the interaction of the other club goers with very little enthusiasm, but was at least mollified that Pansy was thus far not in attendance. Before he could refocus his attention on his companions, however, Theo leaned over and whispered quickly in his ear.

"I'll bet you a solid twenty galleons that you can't get Potter to go out with you again."

Draco nearly spit the champagne he'd just sipped all over his white trousers. "Why the hell would I want to do that?"

"Well he's looking rather fetching in those tight leather trousers don't you think?" Theo said with a malicious smirk.

Yes I do think actually, not that it's any of your sodding business. Taking a rather deep drink from his glass, Draco tried to compose himself. "I don't want to go out with him tomorrow night, or any other night." Denial aside, Draco couldn't help but look over to where Harry was conversing with Ron and Blaise for a moment. He ran an appraising gaze down Harry's body and could barely suppress the shudder of desire that shot through him. Harry was far more relaxed over there than he'd been with him the night before. Still he waved his hand dismissively in Theo's leering face. "No bet, he wouldn't even go anyway."

"Sure hotshot," Theo prodded. "I think you've just lost you're skill."

Draco looked murderous. "Or perhaps you're just a coward."

"Theo, he hates men right now, what good would it do me?" He huffed in exasperation. "Besides he just broke up with someone."

"Well then it should be an easy shag," Theo replied. Draco was thankful Granger had already excused her self to speak with the others as he was sure Theo would be cutting his chances in half if she heard the other man.

"I don't want to shag him." Yes you do, you liar. Draco shook his head. NO I DO NOT…oh who am I kidding I want to shag his brains out.

"You really are turning into a coward." Theo lamented. "Fine, I bet you can't get him to come to lunch tomorrow."

"We're busy tomorrow, remember?" Draco sneered. "Or have you forgotten that we have that charity event?"

"How could I forget that we have the St. Mungo's festival tomorrow, I'm on the bloody board of trustees just like you are?"

Blaise straightened up a bit and glared at his friend. "Merlin, calm down will you? I wasn't insinuating anything, jeez."

Still, Draco couldn't resist the urge to gaze over at Harry and wonder what it would take. Not wanting to continue his conversation with Blaise, Draco got up and walked over to where Harry was standing. He was barely able to suppress the cringe as Harry shot him a cool glare.

"So we should have lunch tomorrow." Draco tried to be a suave and unassuming as possible.

Harry's eyes widened. " I thought we agreed that one dinner was all. You were not interested in pursuing a relationship with anyone and I have sworn off me."

Draco chuckled. "Yes, I believe we came to an understanding. However, the situation has become such that I believe continued fraternization is necessary."

"Oh?" Harry was curious even though he hated to admit it.

"Your friend Ronald has formed an attachment to my dear friend Blaise."

The brunet nodded. "Are you sure it isn't Blaise that has become attached to my dear friend Ron? He looks rather besotted, if I'm honest."

Draco laughed. "Either way, I should like to know a bit more about your weasel."

Harry glared a bit. "I would like very much to know a bit more about your Italian serpent as well."

Unbeknownst to the two of them, Hermione and Theo sat a ways off watching the interlude curiously.