Business or Pleasure
Chapter 4
A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in so long, I don't have an excuse! Here's a new chapter, I hope you like it; tell me what you think! Lots of love, fluffythefish99 xxx
Harry's p.o.v
When Harry had gotten back to his room from the forest, it was to find a note under had been pushed under his door. Reluctant to read what he was expecting, Harry somewhat drew out opening up the folded letter; smoothing out the creases unnecessarily.
Harry,
Listen I didn't mean to argue with you, I'm sorry, even if I still believe what I said was true. But my point is Harry; I can't stand to have the rest of your time here be awkward because of me. So let's just put whatever this silly thing is aside, that way you can get on, and I can (hopefully) get you back. I need to talk to you in person about that actually. But for heaven's sake let's be friends, if not more… anyway, I'll talk to you about that later.
Love, Charlie X
Suspicions confirmed, Harry laid down the note on his bedside table, and tried to think on what to do. He didn't like Charlie in the way Harry was sure Charlie like him, it was obvious in the note. It really was just sex, but now it had to end. He couldn't lead Charlie on. The only thing to do now was to tell him, whenever Harry next saw him, Harry promised to himself that he would pull the other man over and talk to him.
Now on to the other, rather more curious, prospect. Harry had spent the entire walk back to the 'compensare de magie' flabbergasted at the kiss. Who wouldn't? If your life long nemesis suddenly showed more than just civility towards you, you'd be pretty damn confused. Harry didn't even know Draco was gay, or maybe he was bi. It didn't matter; he was gorgeous. Harry pondered on what the meaning behind the kiss could have been. Draco probably didn't have many friends, and Harry doubted there were many witches or wizards that would be in a relationship with him, because of the associations he carried. So maybe he was in desperate need of some attention, especially from someone who understood him, and that's all this kiss was. That would explain the running off quickly afterwards, it was probably just as unexpected to him as it was to Harry.
Of course there was another explanation, one that would explain everything… but no, it couldn't be. There was no way that Draco Malfoy could have a crush on him, on Harry Potter. He couldn't care for him, he couldn't be tender to him, and he couldn't… love him. But that Kiss! There had been fire in it! Passion in it, that even Harry, master of secrets, couldn't hide from himself. There was just something that was bugging him! He hadn't felt this animated about a person before.
Harry had to kiss him again. He knew it there and then. He needed more of whatever it was he had gotten, just to make sure he hadn't been imagining it. But how could he start? Romania was a huge country! How was he supposed to find Draco in the whole of it? It would be more sensible, more practical, to wait until they were both back in England. Harry would easily be able to visit Draco there, and do whatever he needed to. So Harry got on with paperwork revolving around his case. But it took only five minutes of staring at the same sentence on coop security to realise he wasn't going to be able to concentrate on anything until this matter with Draco was settled.
It was on that note that Harry got out his map of Romania and started brainstorming. Bucharest seemed like a likely place, being the capital city, but it was big. Huge in fact. But he had to start somewhere, so he reached for his lap top and searched up places to stay in Bucharest. Bugger. That's intense. He needed Hermione; she would have a locator spell or something he could use! Looking around the room for inspiration, his eyes fell on the grate and cup of floo powder next to it. He could talk to Hermione! Assuming she was at the burrow… Rushing to the grate, he threw and handful of powder into the fire, shouted "The burrow", and stuck his head into the flames, leaving his bottom half behind him in Romania.
With a sickening sensation, his head and face travelled cross countries to the fire in the kitchen of the burrow. Sure enough, there she was, sipping butterbeer at the kitchen table, pouring over some very important looking letters.
"Butterbeer Mione? I half expected green tea." Harry greeted her.
She jumped so fiercely she sloshed said beverage all down her front, and then screamed "Harry!" looking madly down at the fire place.
"Harry, how are you? How's it going- the mission? Are you finished? Are you coming home early? Did you catch him already? Oh Harry I'm so pro-"
Harry hastily interrupted her.
"No, no no, Hermione no. Jeez I'm not that good! But it's going fairly well thank you; I seem to be closer to finding the means in which the thief is using to get at the eggs. But I still need to cross check that with possible suspects yet!" He explained.
"Oh, sorry Harry, I got over excited! The wedding preparations are coming on so well! I've decide on Ginny and Luna's dresses- what did you say you called for again Harry?" she seemed to realise that she's started to go off on one.
"I didn't, yet!" Harry chuckled.
"Sorry Harry! What is it you'd like?" She smiled kindly at him.
"I need your advice on how to find someone? There's someone I'm looking for, who I think is staying down in Bucharest-"
"The capital?"
"Exactly. Bucharest is a huge place, there's no way that I know of to find someone in a crowded city. But you know everything Mione, can it be done?" Harry questioned.
"Well of course it can Harry. Honestly, don't you read? Do you remember our fourth year at Hogwarts? You were about to do the final task- in the maze- and I taught you the 'four point' spell?" Harry nodded in answer, and she went on, "well there's an adaptation of that spell that can point you not to north, but to the person that you are seeking." She seemed pleased with herself.
"Hermione have I ever told you your brilliant?" Harry joked.
"Funnily enough, it's usually in situations like this when you mention it." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Haha," he said sarcastically, "so what's the adaptation?"
"Well you say 'point me' like you usually do, but then you whisper the person you're searching for's name, then the spell carries on as usual. Harry can I ask who you're looking for? Is it to do with your mission or-?"
"No, actually it's kind of personal." When she opened her mouth to speak he rushed on, "but I'll tell you when I get home! I just want to do it face to face is all." She smiled at that.
"Erm Harry, I hate to break this to you, but we are-"
"Oh shut up" They both laughed at that. "Mione I'd better get on, I need to find this person and find the thief as well, so I have a feeling I'm going to need all the time I can get!" He smiled at her in thanks.
"Okay Harry, stay safe, and be back in time for the rehearsal!" She warned.
"Wouldn't miss it. Bye Mione!"
As he pulled himself out of the grate he heard a faint "Bye Harry!"
He missed Mione; she always made him laugh, even if she did it by making him feel like an idiot sometimes! Wasting no time, Harry looked at his map and decided on the best place to apparate too, he decided to go now, while he still had plenty of daylight left.
Smiling to himself, he hoisted his rucksack containing water, and a couple of snack bars, onto his shoulders and apparated to a woodland area inside the Parcul Tineretului Park, situated just in the south of the city. He pulled his wand out of his back pocket, still not out of that bad habit Mad Eye had told him off for all those years ago, and laid it flat on the palm of his hand.
"Point me, Draco Malfoy." Whispered Harry, anticipation building up inside of him. His wand rose about an inch off of his hand and pointed in a roughly North-west direction. Unsurprising, Harry thought to himself, of course he'd be staying in the city centre. Excited at the prospect of seeing Draco again soon, Harry cast a disillusionment charm over himself (aware he couldn't be seen wandering around following a wand in front of muggles) and set off.
He'd only been walking for about twenty minutes, when his wand seemed to point him inside of a chique looking building on his left. Harry's heartbeat quickened when he saw the B&B sign hanging just above the doorway, so he slipped inside and put away his wand. The little house was homely, with little flowering pot plants everywhere and ornate lanterns hung from the ceiling that seemed to omit a warming glow. Harry walked down the carpeted hall, to a little desk at the far end. A plump kind faced middle aged muggle sat at the desk, with her nose almost buried in a juicy romance novel. Of course Harry couldn't be sure it was romance, as the title was in Romanian, but the pink colouring gave it away. With the stealth of a wanderer, Harry slowly leaned around the woman so he could see the occupancy book so blatantly open on her desk. It read:
Anca Eastry- Room 1.
Draco Malfoy- Room 3.
Anghel Postuan- Room 4.
Still under his disillusionment charm, Harry moved away from the kind faced muggle at the desk, and meandered through doors until he found the stairs. Hands shaking, palm sweating, elephants stomping around in his stomach, Harry approached the door clearly labelled '3'.
Stooping outside the door, Harry desperately tried to slow and quieten his heartbeat. Breathe Harry breathe, he thought to himself. He counted to five deep breaths, and then raised his hand to knock. Using all of his willpower to conquer his un-Gryffindor like nerves, he knocked once.
Twice.
And then waited and hoped for fate to come and get him.