A/n: Is this going too slow? For y'all? I don't know. I am just really enjoying writing this. I just don't want to make you all feel like I'm going way too slow or something? UGH. Idk lemme know? ~ kiz

Warnings: In-depth mention of Harry's past case. (I don't want to give out spoilers so I'll just leave it at that.) Domestic problems.

DracoxHarry. Let's pretend I disclaimed this.


"What is that smell?!" Harry asked, running from the bathroom and down the hallway. He was sopping wet, dripping water all around and had a towel barely wrapped around his waist.

Draco glanced up from the table, which Harry soon found had been turned into a work station, "we're experimenting." He answered, dragging his eyes up and down Harry's body, "last night I told you we had guest."

"I thought you were dying or something," Harry grimaced covering his nose and grabbing for Draco's wand on the table to clear the air and only then did he relax - just slightly, adjusting the towel before joining Draco at the table. He glanced over the tabletop, seeing it completely littered with ingredients, parchment and brewed bottled potions.

Draco hummed, giving Harry an eye roll. "Go get dressed," he snapped his fingers before Harry could sit completely.

Harry ignored Draco, though, and sat himself across from where he was standing, "where's Neville?"

"Getting lunch and Hannah." Draco glanced up at the clock hanging just over Harry's head. "It is past one, Potter, did you sleep well? Did you drink the hangover cure?"

"Yes, I did. I slept very well," Harry grinned leaning into his hand, watching as Draco scribbled across a fresh roll of parchment. "And you?"

"Fine," he lied, though Harry didn't know he was lying. Harry slept sound and quiet, for the first time since Draco had started sharing a bed with him. It was almost unnerving, Draco was used to the jolts, whines, complaints, random yelling and trashing about from Harry. Last night? Him being completely still and sleeping so much was unnerving.

"Good," Harry smiled when their eyes met, "oh? What's wrong Malfoy?"

"Nothing," Draco shrugged, "you just seem different today."

"Do I?" Harry furrowed his eyebrows in question.

"I'll knock you out more often if this is the end result," Draco said, trying to lighten his own mood.

Harry snorted with a head shake, and the serious feeling in the room was dispelled, "c'mere Malfoy," he shifted back from the table just a bit, holding his hand out for the blonde who eventually moved around the table and joined him.

Draco sat on his lap, and Harry wrapped his arms around his waist, "mm, good morning, Draco."

"Afternoon," he corrected him quietly, leaning into the kiss Harry laid on his cheek. He had reached up to play with his hair, stopping when he remembered it was wet, "you're going to catch a cold!" He scolded and grabbed his wand making quick work to dry Harry's hair, and just as soon as it was he ran his fingers through the messy, already tangled mess, "need to take better care of yourself." The blonde added, looking down his nose at the Gryffindor.

"Tell me about last night?"

"What about it?"

"Did you have fun?" Harry's eyes were shut, his face relaxed as Draco played with his hair. He felt him untangling the shaggy, messy locks twisting some of the pieces back like he always did and after a pause and a quick pop! from the soft music Draco had playing, Harry had a feeling that he had accio'd those small hair clips he liked to use on his hair as well.

"It was fine," Draco said after a moment, his mind and hands focused on Harry's locks. "Did you?"

"I don't remember much after the second hand of the game," Harry shrugged, "we danced, I think?"

"Not much," Draco snorted, "a short bit before we were called back to the table."

"We were called back?" Harry furrowed his eyebrows, trying to remember, "why?"

"They were talking about you," Draco spoke quietly, before finally meeting Harry's gaze, "alright, all done. You look better than usual and I'm to thank for that."

Harry laughed softly, rolling his eyes, "it feels weird," his hand shot up tracing over his forehead and froze on the scar centered over his left eye, his fingers trailed over the raised skin.

Draco followed the movement carefully, his own eyes tracing the scar, "it shows your eyes off."

"Not that they don't stand out enough," Harry frowned, letting out a quiet sigh.

"They'll never rival mine," Draco continued, trying to change the mood - yet again, "so rest assured, Potter, I'll always be the most attractive between the two of us."

"I'm well aware," Harry smirked, his hand dropped from his forehead and wrapped around Draco's waist, "I do remember you telling me Neville was here and you teasing me."

"I have never teased you," Draco gasped, his eyes shining playfully.

"Mm, is that so?"

"Harry, love, you must be talking about your other boyfriend."

"Oh, right, JJ." Harry nodded, giving Draco an eye roll, "almost forgot about him."

"Potter!" The blonde yelped, "you're lucky I know you're kidding."

"Am I?"

"Aren't you?"

The Gryffindor was laughing, the two barely hearing Neville and Hannah walking into their flat and only the glimpse of her blonde hair alerted the two of them they were there, then Neville calling out, "we've been knocking!" He was saying and peeked into the dinning room as well, "so.. here we are?"

Draco reached out covering Harry's mouth with his hand and giving him a glare, "we couldn't hear it," he sneered, "hi, Hannah, dear."

"Hi Draco," she was smiling and making herself comfortable at the bar top, having turned the stool around to face the two while Neville laid the food on the bar top, "I made sure we got exactly what you like, that girl knows you two quite well."

"Oh, yes, it's my favorite place." Draco spoke fondly, letting his hand drop from Harry's mouth.

Harry, finally having stopped laughing, kept his hands around Draco's waist, "hey Nev," he said to his friend, "thanks for helping me into bed last night."

"Oh well, you know, I'd do anything for you," Neville gave his eyes a flutter, "next time I'll curl up and hold you."

"It'd be more affection then I ever get from Draco." Harry winked, catching Draco's hand as he made to hit his chest.

"Hell, it'd be more affection then I get from Neville," Hannah chimed in giving Neville a dry look.

Neville chuckled, shaking his head, "sorry you're not Harry Potter, what do you want from me?"

"Ah, yes," Harry chortled giving Draco's palm a nip before dropping his wrist, "probably for the best Hannah."

Draco cupped his cheek, stroking his cheek bone, "we don't need either of you annoying men, Hannah and I can leave anytime we want. Do well to remember."

Hannah nodded in agreement, "what'd they do with out us though?"

Neville wrapped his arms around her chest, kissing her cheek, "I'd go absolutely crazy, so you're not going anywhere."

"Since you asked so nicely," she smiled, giving him a proper kiss, "alright boys, I'm hungry, c'mon." She added, turning to face the bar top.

Draco pushed himself to his feet, "go get dressed Potter, or you're not eating with us." Harry groaned, but headed down the hallway once he got up. Draco was grabbing drinks from the icebox for everyone, and plates, "I didn't tell him about the Seamus thing, by the way, he didn't remember so I just kinda left it alone."

"I don't imagine too many people will bring it up," Hannah shrugged, "though, Ron...?"

"He'll manage," Draco shrugged, "I hope anyway, guess we'll know Monday."

Neville slid onto the bar stool next to Hannah, "he feel okay today?"

"Top notch," Draco shrugged, glancing up when he heard the bedroom door opening and quickly changed the subject, "so, anyway, we'll have to do something different with that last potion it gave a horrible smell." Neville, having took a big whiff, looked at Draco in question when he couldn't find it. "Potter banished the smell," he chuckled softly and held a plate out for Harry, "he thought someone was decomposing."

"Aw, thanks baby," Harry took the plate, sitting next to Hannah, "it was terrible smelling, by the way, what's it for anyway?"

Neville shook his head, shutting his eyes as he sighed, "nothing."

"Uh oh," Hannah chuckled, looking over at Draco in question.

"We're going to have our own self-care brand," Draco said proudly, "skin care, hair care, nail care..." He trailed off with a shrug, "promote health and beauty care."

"Oh?" She asked looking at Neville in question, "you didn't tell me about that!"

"It's still in the works, for one," he muttered, "and I'm still not 100 percent sold on it."

"Luckily, for me anyway, he doesn't have to be 100% invested since he only owns half the company."

"I think it's a good idea," Harry said after a moment, "you should see Draco at night, he always has something going on and look at him... he's beautiful."

Draco gave him a look, in shock, "uh...?"

"He's been trying to sell me on skin care since the first day, to be honest," Neville nodded, shrugging, "I don't really care all that much. He's the brains behind the potions." Draco, still a little shocked about Harry's impromptu compliment, only nodded.

"Would you hold still!?" Harry demanded from Draco glaring at the actually freaking out blonde. He was pacing back and forth, his arms waving dramatically as he screamed insult after insult at Neville and Harry both.

"You daft twats!" He had yelled most recently, and when Harry tried approaching again he pointed his wand at the man, "if you come a step closer, Scarhead, you'll wish you hadn't."

"He gets more violent the madder he is," Neville commented, leaning his arms against the chair he was admittedly ready to duck behind.

"He's gotten quite good at wandless stinging jinxes," Harry muttered, hands up and frozen, "I piss him off a lot."

"Draco, honey," Hannah was saying approaching him anyway, "we have to get that off of you."

Draco tensed when she reached for him, his eyes cutting to her with a hard glare, "this is their fault!" He was roaring and Hannah reached out taking her wand from him, "this is all their fault. They didn't listen to me!"

"They never do," she was agreeing in a soft tone, and without warning she raised a cold rag to his face wiping the lime green face mask off.

It was about five minutes ago when Draco complained it was stinging, and "it usually doesn't sting what did you two idiots do...?", that he wiped a bit of the green, gooey, skin care mask that had splattered on Harry's arm off and in its wake left a dark purple mark.

They all knew why he hadn't immediately taken it off of his face, because as long as it was on his face then his face was still hidden, he has a very fair complexion there was no saying what color his skin was going to be if Harry's darker skin turned a dark shade of purple.

"Oh no." Neville said quietly, his hand flying to his mouth, and Draco sent one of those wandless stinging jinxes Harry had warned him about right at Neville. Who dropped down behind the chair to hide from another that was sure to follow rubbing his side with a loud yelp.

Draco's eyes met Harry's who was doing everything in his power to stay passive, "where is the list of the potion ingredients?" He asked through gritted teeth. Now that he was semi-calm, or at least calmer than before Hannah started soothing his stinging face, he was able to think a bit.

Harry didn't want to say it, because he knew he might actually be killed so instead he started backing away, "Malfoy, it is illegal to use Unforgivable Curses." Harry was saying, hands up as he backed out of the room, "and I am Head Auror so it would only be my duty to take you in."

"Where is the list, Potter?" Draco asked evenly, his anger was at a new level. A new level of calm that was absolutely terrifying.

"I will make this up to you," Harry was out of the dining room they had claimed as a work space, "I promise. I love you."

"The bloody list, Potter."

"Draco, honey, I think he's trying to say he doesn't have one," Hannah was rubbing Draco's arms, "let's get you sat down."

"I know what he's trying to say but I want to hear him say it."

"It won't make you feel better," Neville chimed in, glancing up from his hiding spot, "I'll send a message to 'Mione she'll know what to do."

"No!" Draco yelled, "no one else will ever know about this!"

"Hermione will be able to help!" He protested, pulling his wand out sending the message via patronus anyway.

Draco screeched out a yell that was far too loud to belong to him and shot across the table, "you little shit!" He growled aiming right for Neville who was running from the room and found himself locking the door of the room he was hiding in. "Oh real bloody mature, running from me!" Draco yelled through the door, "locking the door? You fucking pussy!"

"Draco," Harry frowned, still standing quite a ways back, "calm down. I can remember most of the ingredients and you'll be able to figure it out. We'll practice on my arm, yeah?"

"Of course we fucking will," he snapped, took a deep breath and tried to collect himself. When the door sounded with a quick knock the two heard Hannah hurrying to it and Draco stomped down the hallway, "we're fighting." He said to Harry in passing before turning into the dinning room.

"Oh, Draco," Hermione muttered, shaking your head, "where's the list of ingredients?" She asked, slipping her cloak off and looking over the objects all over the table, "Hannah said Harry and Neville made this one?"

"They did, and the last time I let them. Ever." Draco grumbled, slamming himself down into his seat, all traces of his normal Malfoy poise were gone. This was just Draco in every bit of anger Harry had ever seen him. He was scared, if he was honest, absolutely terrified. "Potter!" Draco snapped, "get your arse in here!"

Harry swallowed roughly, edging into the room slowly. He knew Draco had a right to be mad, of course he did, Harry would be mad too if Draco came in all willy nilly and fucked around with something he was clearly passionate about. Harry shouldn't have done that, he should have been more thoughtful and he wasn't. He acted like an arse and he knew he deserved to be treated like one but the only thought going through his mind was Michael.

No wonder Michael was always so mad at me. He thought as he slowly approached the table, and raised one shaky hand to point to a small scratch of parchment. They had started a list but after three ingredients they stopped, Draco looked at him immediately. He first noticed the shake of his arm and instinctively honed into his thoughts, he reached for Harry's arm and the whole room froze. Harry was looking at the table expecting the worse and after Draco gave Hermione and Hannah a small (apologetic) look the two turned and left heading down the hallway, to get Neville.

"Potter," he started slowly and gave his arm a small pull so Harry would look at him, "I'm sorry." Draco had been so mad he had forgotten not to get mad, he knew better but he didn't stop himself. Shit.

Harry stared, shaking his head, "no, I should be sorry."

"Sure, we're both sorry," Draco brushed it away and pulled himself to his feet. "Just, calm down, alright?"

"I'm fine."

"You're not," Draco brought his hand to his lips, kissing his knuckles, "it's alright, I'm still here yelling at you." Harry nodded, leaning into his touch and shutting his eyes as he relaxed, "bubotuber pus, wasn't it?" Draco asked after a moment, dropping his hand and picking up the vial, "you two didn't dilute it enough." He sat the vial back down and called for, "Hermione!"

She was by his side immediately, "it's obviously bubotuber pus." Then she was moving around the table grabbing up something long and white, "it'll be easy to combat." She muttered, grabbing for something else that she started chopping up.

The Slytherin watched her making herself comfortable, pulling Harry into the seat he had just vacated. "Longbottom, I'm sorry," Draco said as soon as Neville and Hannah joined them again.

"I've heard worse," Neville laughed with a shrug, "probably form you, even. Your face makes up for it though, so..-"

"Neville," Hannah groaned slapping his shoulder, "shut up!"

"Oh c'mon, it's Malfoy." Neville groaned, giving her butt a small pat of his own.

"Yeah and Malfoy had you running and hiding in his bedroom."

Draco sat himself on Harry's lap, grabbing something off the table that he started rolling the juice out of, "too be fair," Neville said quietly, "his face was all purple with anger."

Draco chuckled, bright pinkish purple face and all, before pointing his knife at Neville, "watch it Longbottom, you have to work with me."

I wish I could be like them, Harry thought, watching Draco and Neville joking with one another when not even ten minutes ago they were practically about to fight. I wish I could let things go. Draco leaned back against Harry's chest and grabbed his hand, bringing it around his waist to rest on his thigh, "next time you use bubotuber pus, which is a great addition for facial care. Good thinking Potter," he said giving him his praise, "you'll want to dilute it considerably more, think of proportions you use and cut it in half, if not more. It's better to not have enough of that then too much, as you can see."

Why isn't he still mad? Harry sighed, nodding his head while he listened, how can he just... not be mad? I fucked things up.

"Easy fixes," Draco answered the thought subtly, downing the mixture Hermione and he just concocted and two seconds later his alabaster skin was perfect and shiny. Draco reached up, running fingers over his smooth face, "I clearly overreacted," he added, and the other three knew it wasn't for them to hear so they pretended they hadn't, "am I forgiven?" He glanced over his shoulder as he asked, meeting Harry's eyes.

"Of course," he whispered, kissing his shoulder.

"Thank Merlin, I was almost worried about it," he offered an eye roll, dipping his finger into the left over concoction. He lifted Harry's arm slightly, and ran his wet finger over the mark on it, "I don't know how it wasn't absolutely killing you, my face was stinging so bad."

Oh, Harry tilted his head, the pain was what made him act like that?

"Figured it was," Hannah answered that one, "I could feel it just when I was running my fingers over your face."

"We should note this," Hermione had pulled up a chair, "a blessing in disguise," she was saying and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill, setting to work.

"We should get a drink," Neville got himself to his feet, "what do you drink, Malfoy?"

"Whisky," he answered before turning on Harry's lap and looking at him, "I've already apologized, twice, you're not getting another."

"It's not that," Harry whispered, shaking his head, "just.. I'm so sorry Draco."

"Look, my face hurt and I was irritated and I clearly overreacted," he sighed, "there you got another, but that's it."

Harry smiled after a moment, leaning in to kiss Draco, "are we still fighting?"

"I don't think so," Draco shook his head, kissing him back, "we're brewing potions with Hermione, now."

"She might brew you under the table," Harry said, eyes closed as he held Draco, "she's pretty good."

Draco lifted an eyebrow, watching Harry closely before kissing his temple, "you okay, Potter? You sure?"

"A little hungry, how about I cook us all dinner?"

"I'd like that," Draco shifted so Harry could get up, "send Blaise a patronus he'll throw a fit if he finds out we had people over and he wasn't here."

"Oh, Ron too," Hermione called as Harry walked away and already turned back to the potion she, Neville and Draco were going to do next.

Hannah joined Harry in the kitchen, eyeing him. She didn't know what to say, he was leaning on the counter top in silence. "H-Harry?"

"Yeah, I'm going to, just thinking about dinner," he jolted up quickly nearly whacking his head on the cabinet.

"I don't think he meant it," she reached out and ran her hand down his back.

"No, it's okay," he smiled, "hey, you any good at cooking? I'm the only one that does around here."

"Sure," she dropped her hand and pulled the icebox open, "whatcha thinking?" Harry sent the patronus messages to Blaise, Ron and even Pansy before peeking into the icebox with her.


Draco was standing on the lift, about to head down to the ground floor of the Ministry when Harry and his assistant climbed on. Harry barely glanced up, said a quick, "excuse us," before he turned back to the file he was looking at, continuing on with his conversation. JJ, taking notes, didn't even look up at all. Draco was three seconds away from throwing a fit when he heard his name come out of Potter's mouth and swallowed his annoyance to listen.

"Drake's gonna be pissed," Harry muttered, shaking his head and sighing. Since when does he call me Drake?

"He'll understand," Joe lowered the notepad he had been writing on and reached out giving Harry's arm a small pat, I fucking knew it, "it's your career, Mr. Potter."

Harry gave a small nod, shrugging the other's hand off after a moment, "schedule a meeting with Ron as soon as he gets back from his rounds. Tell Jen to have my uniform cleaned, and I'll need to figure out who to take with me..."

Draco wanted to speak up, but as the lift came to a halt on the ground floor he stayed quiet. Silent. It was only after JJ, giving a quick conformation he understood, stepped off that he moved. His hand reached out quickly, wrapping around Harry's wrist.

Harry whipped around, wand out and pointed at Draco the two staring at each other in shock, "oh Christ!" Harry sighed, dropping his wand immediately, "don't do that to me, Malfoy!"

"You're going somewhere?"

"Wh-what?" Harry gaped at him in shock, then as if he suddenly realized it had been Draco on the lift and not some random person his face paled considerably.

"You're leaving?" Draco asked again, his voice strained. Harry just stared, he hadn't wanted to go before hand. He hadn't wanted to take the case the moment it was handed to him by Hermione but, he had to. Order of the Minister. Order of the Minister and well that was his job. Harry realized it wasn't because of the case, normally he would have been bursting at the seams - hell, he was itching for a case like this almost the second he got back on his two year stint but now as he stared at Draco he realized just why he wasn't wanting to go. "You're leaving." It wasn't a question this time around, it was a statement.

Draco fought down his anger, doing his best to stay composed. He's not ready. Harry looked like a deer caught by a light, his eyes were wide and he shivered when Draco sighed loudly, "I'll have to make sure your uniform is properly cleaned, I know how incompetent that secretary of yours is." Draco said after a moment, his voice even and soft. He dropped his hold on Harry's wrist sliding his fingers down Harry's palm, "lunchtime, Potter, c'mon." His fingers slipped between Harry's, pulling him just a bit closer so he could give him a kiss. It was a brief kiss, but enough to pull Harry out of his stupor.

"Malfoy," the man whispered, leaning back in for another kiss, "I just got the case... today, about an hour ago, I - uh, it was from the Minister. I don't have a choice."

"Hey," he chuckled, shaking his head, "JJ is right, it's your career," Draco was smiling but Harry knew it wasn't a real one - he knew because he had been watching the real smile for some time now. "Good on you by the way, brushing his hand off," Draco added with a smirk and gave his hand a squeeze, "he's a bit handsy, I told you."

"Malfoy...?"

"I know, I know, it's your choice." Draco forced his smile again, stepping away from the corner of the lift and giving Harry a tug so he'd follow.

"Malfoy?"

Draco heard him, sure, but he didn't respond. He couldn't. He knew if he did he'd lose it. He's not ready yet, didn't Hermione know that!? I'm the one that has to hear his dreams, hear his screams... I'm the one that has to hear him yell for Michael at 2 in the morning.

Harry's not ready yet.

"Malfoy." Harry tried again, he was slowing the two down considerably and to a stop, "damn it Draco look at me!" He demanded not caring that the few passing people turned to stare at them, Draco didn't either.

He was staring straight ahead, straight backed and rigid, "I don't want to do this, Potter." He said quietly, Harry moved around to stand in front of him.

"Talk to me, Malfoy!"

"I'm fine Potter," Draco spoke up, finally meeting his eyes, "it's your job, yeah? You have to do these things sometimes."

"You're a lot of things, Draco, but a liar isn't one of them."

"Stop," Draco shook his head, "I'm not doing this, and I'm sure as hell not doing to in the middle of the hallway at the Ministry."

"Draco, I'm sorry." Harry pulled him close, and Draco allowed him, "we'll talk about this at home then?" He slid his arm around Malfoy's sharp, boney shoulders, directing the two towards the on-site cafeteria.

Home, Draco repeated the word to himself and took in a deep breath to calm down, he's just not ready yet.

"What do you want today?" Draco asked after a moment, standing in the middle of the busy cafeteria.

"Something delicious," Harry kissed his cheek, "you."

"Potter," Draco grunted with an eye roll, "that's not how you solve disagreements."

"I'm not tr-..."

Draco turned to him, pushing his hand away, "Potter," he shook his head before walking over to the hot table leaving Harry in the middle of the room, alone.

Harry looked up from his desk, not that he was doing any work, he had been staring at the same folder for the past two hours he realized when the knock on his office door demanded his attention. He could hear JJ form the side desk get up and walk towards it. Harry sat his quill down, the ink blotted on the page where he had frozen while writing his report, the words: dragon trader took his attention over and the only thing he could think about was Draco.

"Mr. Weasley," JJ was saying, stepping back to invite Ron into the room.

Harry glanced over seeing his friend hovering at the door, before stepping in, "hey Ron," Harry greeted about to get to his feet but Ron threw himself into the plush chair across from Harry's desk, kicking his legs out before he could. He watched JJ walk back to his desk, grab something then he turned around handing Ron the case folder.

"You sending me out?"

"No, Herm-" Harry paused, clearing his throat, "the Minister is sending me out on a case. So, I was going to ask who you thought I should take with me?"

"Oh," Ron opened the folder, "we could go, be like old times?" He was smiling as he asked, looking up at Harry with a wide grin, "what'cha say 'Arry?"

"I?" Harry chuckled, running his hands through his messy hair and when his fingers caught on a tangled strand he wished Draco was there to soothe it. He had grown used to that by now, he missed it. "I wish I had thought about that, you sure you want to go?"

"It can't be that long of a case," Ron was reading the file now, "nothing more than a few days." He looked down at his wristwatch, "we'll be back by Friday."

Harry dropped his hand, shrugging, "sure, I'll get Dean and give 'em a rundown of the office but Joe will be here with him."

"At this rate JJ could probably run the damn office," Ron snickered, "ain't that right Jones?"

JJ glanced over with a small smile, "wouldn't be the same without Mr. Potter."

Harry was giving Ron a dry look, rolling his eyes when his assistant said that, "Joe go get Dean."

"Yes, sir," he was on his feet quickly and just as quick out of the office.

"I could see why Malfoy doesn't like him."

Harry sighed, "sure, anyway, you and me huh?"

"You okay, mate?"

"Fine, why?"

"Just making sure..." Ron trailed off with a shrug, leaning forward and resting his arms across Harry's desk, "you think you're ready for a case?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Harry..." Ron frowned, his eyes scanning over Harry's face, "last time you were out in the field you... lost someone. Did they sign off on you yet?"

"Killed someone," Harry corrected, his face hard and serious, "you know, I think about that every day, I hear it every day around here I don't need you to remind me too. If you don't want to go then don't."

"I-" Ron cut off when the office door opened again and Dean was stepping through, "I was just asking." He said quietly, and sat back again letting Harry talk to Dean.

This is the longest Monday of my life, Harry groaned when another knock on his office door gathered his attention. He looked down at the ink blotted page, throwing his quill across his desk as JJ hurried across the room to get the door. Harry would be lying if he didn't say he was beyond surprised to find Pansy Parkinson standing on the other side of the door. She had two tall Styrofoam cups in hand, taking a drink from the one in her right.

"Pansy?" Joe asked quietly, glancing over his shoulder at Harry who was doing his best to not pay attention.

"Hey JJ," Harry could imagine the smile she was wearing, it always looked more like a smug grin if he was honest. Like she was better than everyone that ever crossed her line of sight, "actually hear for Potts, so..."

"U-uh," the younger boy nodded quickly, jerking the door open widely and letting her in. Harry stayed focused on his report, he didn't want to deal with it and it was only when he saw a manicured hand in front of his face placing one of those cups down that he sat back. He looked up at her, shifting back slightly, "may I sit?"

"Please," he nodded to the chair, watching as she pulled it just a tad closer. Then she was seated, crossing her legs and smoothing her dark purple dress, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"You should be ever grateful you get graced by the visit," she grinned, that smug grin Harry always saw on her face. She's just like Draco. Pansy, using a dark red painted finger, lifted her bangs and pushed it behind her ear, "I heard you tend to drink just straight coffee."

"Mm," Harry hummed, picking up the cup and taking a sip through the plastic mouth piece. It was a little warm but he didn't let it show.

"You're very trusting," she noted with a chuckle, watching him.

"Trying to kill me, Parkinson, I don't think Draco would like that all too much." Harry sat the cup down and crossed his hands on his desk, staring at her, "what do you want?"

"Your manners went quickly," she was dragging this out, baiting him, he knew this and it was working, she knew that.

Harry glanced over at JJ, who was doing his best to not stare, then back to Pansy, "you two dating?" That was the thing about Parkinson and himself, they didn't like each other they could be uncouth and the other wouldn't give a second thought because it didn't change the way they saw one another.

Pansy rolled her head over to look at JJ, then back to Harry with a shrug, "why.. jealous?"

"Terribly." He saw JJ flushing, and sighed, "just noticed he called you Pansy rather than Miss Parkinson. He's usually pretty formal."

"Mm," she was smiling, a real smile and Harry was shocked to see it, "I don't think we've had such a civil conversation before."

"You're usually doing your best to tear me down," he said quietly, "anyway, what's going on?"

"Drakey stopped by after his lunch with you," she started and Harry's eyes grew wide, oh no, "yeah, I'd have that look on my face too, Potter, if I were you." Harry couldn't talk, he was too scared what she was going to say. His mind could only think the worst, she's here to break up with me for him. He cringed at the thought, I really did it this time. Pansy leaned forward and put her own coffee cup on the edge of Harry's desk, "so, you have to go, hm?"

"Why do you care?"

"I get paid to," she rolled her eyes as she said the words, "look, we've been busy and your case popped up finally. I opted to take it for Draco's sake."

"I think that's like... against some..thing?" He stuttered over the words, his face shading as he realized just what this was. A follow up with the in-house mindhealers.

"Well, I have a paper here," she grabbed something from her pocket and with a tap of her wand it turned into a full folder. She opened it, riffled through, and pulled out a paper filled with fine print, "it's a privacy policy," she explained handing it to Harry, "I won't be allowed to talk about your case with anyone that isn't in your chart which," she met his eyes as if begging him to not make her say it. Harry stared back, daring her too. He knew she would, she would always rise to the occasion it's just who she was. "Isn't anyone, since your partner is dead." He also knew she said that much harsher than she needed, it was payback for making her say it.

"I know you, Parkinson," he sighed, clearly unfazed, "you talk about whatever with whoever."

"That's not true, I talk about things with Draco and Blaise, but I have never disclosed personal information I have learned during a meeting with anyone. I'd have been sacked by now," she explained, "I'm honestly not near as bad as you make me sound." Harry and her shared a look, "Pott- Harry, you can't go out in the field again unless I sign off, alright?"

"Hermione's already given me the case."

"That's because the Minister is under the impression you're alright so she was a little ahead of the game." Pansy sighed, "we would have had someone in here Friday, but, well we had that case with the Curse Breakers and we had to act immediately in that circumstance."

"Are you going to sign off on me, or does it matter what I say?"

"If I feel you're ready, yes."

"Draco doesn't, hm?" He asked, and Pansy stared back impassively clearly not about to share that information. Harry sighed and signed the paper passing it back, "whatever, let's go."

"Joe, dear, as much as I love you staring at me I'll have to ask you to leave." Pansy was getting to her feet and Harry watched as she made herself comfortable in his office. She lit the fireplace, drew the drapes that lined his windows, even dimmed the overhead lights before grabbing the door and ushering Joe through. "Jenifer, love," she started in that same soft speaking tone Harry had a hard time putting with her, "no one allowed in until I leave, alright?"

"Sure, Miss Parkinson."

Harry stared at the door in shock, shaking his head, she hates Draco but likes Pansy?

"Joining me?" Pansy was sitting in the plush armchair, and Harry got to his feet grabbing his coffee and her own drink to take to her. "I find this is much more relaxing, getting people comfortable to talk."

"Oh," Harry sat himself down on the couch, "you know Jen?"

"Sure, she's been with the company a long time, she's seen a few things."

"Right," Harry frowned at the thought, "I never thought of that."

"Most don't." Pansy was silent after she said that, and leaned back into the chair making herself comfortable while watching Harry.

He realized, after a few moments, he was supposed to be the one talking. After taking a deep breath he glanced away from her to the fire place, "what, uh, do I need to do?"

"Talk," she was smiling and Harry realized this was her work face, her patient care face. She was smiling, her voice was soft, not at all like the girl that walked in just moments ago, "about anything you want, we'll go from there."

"Sure," he pushed his hand through his hair and instantly his thoughts went to Draco, "he was mad at me today." He said quietly, "he doesn't like me to know when he is, for some reason, I think he thinks I can't take it."

"Why?"

"I don't know," Harry shrugged, "he's always so careful with me, like I'm broken. Like the other day when we were brewing potions..." He looked at her, "before you got there, there was a fight. He was so mad and just as quick as he got mad he stopped and apologized. He doesn't think I can handle it."

"You think that is how you carry yourself or something else?"

"How I carry myself?" He scoffed, "no one else treats me like that, just him." He looked at her, and she stared back, "Michael was like that too, maybe I just pick the guys that want a fixer-upper."

"What does Draco do that reminds you of Michael?"

"They're different people," Harry answered with a head shake, "totally different, like Draco goes to bars and invites people over, and we're always doing something together, and he loves Teddy... Michael didn't do those things. Hell, Draco even holds my hand in public. Michael wouldn't." Pansy nodded as if telling Harry to go on, but he wasn't looking at her so he didn't see it. "It's how they look at me, Draco watches over me like I'm about to fall apart at any time and Michael did the same. They're always so careful with me, like a doll. Broken Harry Potter," he muttered, shaking his head, "I hate it, I'm an adult y'know? They should know that. I'm old enough to take care of myself!"

Pansy cleared her throat when Harry screamed, he looked over immediately, flushing as if he remembered who he was talking to, "have you tried telling him?"

"No, it'd hurt his feelings."

"Why do you think he does it?"

Harry closed his eyes, shrugging, "I don't know, must be something about me."

Pansy knew, of course, she knew because Draco told her. Multiple times, the way he dreams, the things he says. That's what he always went back to. "Do you think you take care of yourself, Harry?"

"I..." He trailed off with a frown, his eyes still shut as he relaxed back against the couch, "I, uh, well I try to - yeah."

Pansy watched him closely, she could feel the change in the atmosphere and found herself unsure what to say exactly. "Wh-."

"I could have coped with Michael's death better," Harry spoke over her, "I didn't handle that well at all. I threw myself at Draco like a leech, it's not fair to him, maybe that's why I'm broken." Pansy stayed absolutely silent, she barely moved. She had a feeling Harry wasn't too candid often, he was pretty good at talking around situations and she knew from conversations Draco and her had the man didn't often offer actual conversation with his problems. "He's so easy to get addicted to," Harry said, Pansy noting the use of the word, "he's bloody perfect, Draco Malfoy. He pushes me to be better, to try new things, to want to be more then... me."

It was quiet, Pansy just waiting and Harry just sitting there. He was pulling at a string on his jeans as he sat there, "I didn't go home for a while, I stayed here and then with Teddy and 'Dromeda." He glanced over at Pansy, "and then Draco... I've been living with him, practically, and when I'm not there I'm here again."

"Where are you mostly now?" She asked, as if she didn't know, that was the job though.

"There, with him." He shared a look with her, "it's home."

"What would you have done differently, coping with Michael's death?"

"Me being a murderer or him dying?"

"Is it the same thing to you, or different?"

Harry hadn't ever been asked that before, typically it was seen as different by everyone else. No one seemed to remember he lost his partner, someone he had even considered marrying. Something he was familiar with, but as he thought about the sadness of it he realized it was different. To himself at least, "different," he spoke up quietly, "I murdered him but I... I lost someone too."

"Yes, you did, lose someone," she clarified, "what does that feel like?"

"I lost a friend," he chose the word purposefully, "he was a good friend, a shit boyfriend, but he was familiar. He was what I had."

"...and the other?"

"Being a murderer?"

"No," Pansy shifted forward, leaning her elbows against her knees, "you didn't murder anyone, you defended yourself and saved your own life. That's different."

"Not to me."

Pansy frowned deeply, "Potte-Harry, I need you to focus on this, okay?" He nodded, his face paling as he listened. This is it, he thought, this will be what decides everything I can do from now on. "Take me back to that day."

He didn't want to, at all, he had only talked about it one night with Draco and that was it. Even during his off-site mindhealing treatments, where he was quickly cleared so they could get through the trial - or almost trial, they declared him safe and sound, defending himself during what was a stressful time.

"I need to know you can do this." She said, looking right at him, "I need you to do this Harry."

"I don't want to."

"Harry, listen to me." She swallowed roughly, audibly, her eyes hard as they found his. His swimming with tears, "I need you to do this, okay, take me back."

"It..." he trailed off, blowing out a rough breath, "I see it every night." He whispered, his eyes shutting again, "it was dark in the cave, it was cold and damp and we were lost. I don't know how long that cave was but we roamed around it for ages trying to get out, only to find the exit was right under our noses." He grimaced as he said it, "they had it charmed, so no one would be able to get out if they broke in. A never ending maze. Michael broke first," his voice was quiet, but it was the only thing Pansy could hear in the otherwise quiet room. "He was losing it, we were hungry and fighting. God, all we did was fight. He kept telling me how much he hated me, y'know, he was thinking about breaking up with me. I was too much work for him, he didn't think it was going to work out."

He shuddered at the memory and Pansy frowned to herself, wrapping her arms around her chest as if she could feel the darkness herself. "I've lived with an evil man tucked inside my head," Harry whispered, "I'd rather live through that again then have to hear Michael say those things to me. When they came back and we attacked, we were so weak. I'd never felt like that before, and I never want to again. I felt empty, powerless, I couldn't do a simple stunner to defend myself, I didn't know how we were going to get out of that alive."

"Michael was running his mouth about who I was, like he thought that I would save the day. Like maybe my name would get us out alive or I would have some type of unspoken power." Harry scoffed, "he never treated me like that before, I was always just Harry to him nothing else." A tear streaked down Harry's face and the man hurried to wipe it away, his eyes opening but he wasn't focused on the room he was replaying it in his head all over again.

"We could only go if we dueled, and only one person would make it out. I tried to tell him it wasn't real, it was... It was a lie, they weren't going to ever let us get out alive. He knew that too, but he was desperate. He was so close to me I could hear his breathing," Harry reached out, "I could have touched him, but he was too quick for that. He raised his wand and I heard the spell leave his lips before I saw the green. I wasn't sure I would have even been able to combat it." He dropped his hand, sagging into the seat, "but I did, I'd never said it before and once I started I couldn't stop."

"How many were killed?"

"9, including Michael. When I finally stopped it was because the man I was pointing my wand out, a child - he wasn't older than 16, he grabbed my wrist and begged me not to."

Pansy shifted to her feet, the sound of her heels on the wooden floor made Harry look over and when he did he saw her approaching. He was frozen as she knelt down in front of him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling him close. The moment she held him he let out a quiet sob, it shook through his body and everything he was keeping back came roaring out of him right there in her arms. In Pansy Parkinson's arms, "you're not a murderer, Harry Potter, you defended yourself. You saved your life, don't you see that?" She was asking, rocking him slowly and close, "you have to let that go."

Harry grabbed at her tightly, his hands hard against her back and his fingers were wrapped around her arms trying to feel anything beside the darkness that was haunting his mind. Pansy ran her fingers through his hair, sliding back to her backside and letting the grown man crawl into her lap. He was small, tiny, it was almost as if he was a child the way he was crying and part of her wondered if she should have silenced the room before the session. She hadn't figured this would have happened, she hadn't any idea just what he had been hiding.

She knew Draco knew, though, he had to. Someone as skilled as he was at legilimency there was no way he wouldn't have been able to see this, he knew and that was why he sent her. "Draco loves you very much," she decided on, pulling her fingers through his tangles, "he's absolutely smitten and that means he'll do anything and everything it takes to keep you safe."

Harry couldn't talk, no matter how hard he tried, all his unstable emotions were let loose the moment she hugged him and they weren't going away anytime soon it seemed.

"Whether it be marching in here and telling your staff off, or fighting Seamus in the middle of a bar," she sighed softly, "or knocking down every door in the Ministry until the Minister herself escorts him out." Harry let out a loud groan, sucking up a sob and trying to talk but she didn't let him. "So I'm here to evaluate you, Harry, because he says you're not ready and that's not because you're broken but that's because you're human." She whispered, "and human's make mistakes they need help every now and then."

Pansy looked down at him, Harry was wiping his eyes on his sleeves but as soon as one batch of tears dried up another was working its way through his body, "I think this is probably the biggest break through you've ever had?" She asked, and he nodded, "I'm not going to hold you back, I think you're able to handle it but I want you to be safe and I'll see you as soon as you get back - am I clear?"

"Y-yes," he whispered, collecting himself just enough, the two of them stayed wrapped around each other.

"As soon as your two boot-clad feet hit Ministry ground you come straight to my office, clear?" He nodded again, "you're stronger than you think you are, Harry," she added, shutting her eyes as she laid her cheek against the unruly hair she had spent the past few minutes attempting to tame - only to have no luck. "You can make it through anything, and that means this case and whatever is waiting for you at home."

"Home," he whispered pulling back just enough to look at his watch, "we're supposed to leave tonight."

"Then I suggest you get out of here for a few hours and go see Draco."

"Y-yeah," he moved carefully out of her hold, before bending and pulling her from the ground to give her a hug of his own. It was quiet again, the both of them just held fast. "Thank you, Pansy," he whispered against her ear and she felt him press his lips to her cheek before he turned and walked away without a look back, muttering a self-cleansing charm quietly and then he was gone.


Harry eased the front door open, finding the flat silent, warm and empty. I missed this, he thought as he silently shut and locked the door, it was well into Saturday morning and by now he hadn't seen Draco since lunch on Monday. He had looked, looked until he got the patronus from Ron that they needed to leave, Harry had pushed the time frame as much as he could. So, he did the only thing he could think of - wrote a quick note.

Well, it wasn't all that quick, it was everything he had been thinking he was going to say when he saw him. The typical 'I love you's' and 'I'm sorry's" the words that were better to say in person but Harry fucked that up. He fucked that up when he made his stupid comment at lunch on Monday and Draco had gone. He didn't want to be found, so he wasn't. Harry laid his suitcase on the divan, and stripped his traveling cloak before his shoes. He would have been back a few hours earlier if he hadn't had to see Pansy, who was waiting in his office. No matter how much he wanted to look over the cases piled on his desk after she let him leave, he refrained. It was four and a half-days of work, really five days of work since he didn't do much at all on Monday, but he had something more important at home.

If he even had that, anymore. He needed to find out, Ron had to have tired of hearing about Draco by now but he never said anything. He had just let it go, he let Harry talk and complain and worry without much of a complaint of his own. Harry moved silently down the hallway, taking a deep breath and pushing the door open just barely to peek in. Draco, pale frame and all, was stretched across the bed half naked and curled up with one of Harry's pillows tucked under his head.

Harry noticed one of his button-ups were wrapped around the blonde as well, not much else though, he stared down at the man before him feeling his heart give a heave at the sight. It was everything he thought it would be, someone loving him enough to care he was gone. Someone caring enough to miss him. Someone wrapped around his pillow and tucked into his shirt because they loved him. Harry grabbed the chair across the room, pulling it towards the bed before he fell back into it. He couldn't wake him, not now, not after seeing him like this. So, instead, he watched him sleep. Silent, sleeping, perfect Draco. Who was snoring softly, though he would swear he never did that, his chest rising and falling slowly and a peaceful look on his face.

I could never lose this, Harry thought rubbing his fingers over his stubble lined jaw, I could never let this go, not now. He ran his fingers up his cheek and through his damp hair - they had to take a shower at the Ministry, before leaning into his fist watching as Draco shifted on the bed. His snore stopped and he raised up glancing out across the bed, his alabaster skin practically glowed in the moonlight. He grabbed at the bed next to him, a quiet sigh escaping his lips, "Harry," he whispered softly and laid back down burying his face against Harry's pillow.

"I'm okay," Harry whispered back and Draco shot right back up, staring across the bed at him, "hey..."

"Potter!" Draco scrambled to his knees, hurrying across the bed and right at Harry who had just barely enough time to catch him. His lips crashed hard against him, his fingers tugging on his locks pulling Harry right into the kiss.

Harry held him, wrapping his hands around Draco's bare waist, "I missed you," he whispered softly against his shoulder.

Draco nuzzled his cheek with his lips, and down his neck, "you're okay?"

"I am okay," Harry chuckled, tilting his neck, "poor Ron though."

"What? What happened?"

"I talked about you so much I'm sure they'll avoid us for a while," Harry chuckled with a small blush, rolling his eyes at himself, "I was scared I wouldn't have a home to come back to."

"I should throw you out, right now," Draco muttered, nipping at his neck, "but you're far too cute to do something like that."

"Yeah, that's all, mm?"

"That's absolutely all," his voice was quiet and he trailed his nose against Harry's stubble.

"I'll shave tomorrow," Harry answered, feeling Draco do it again.

"I kind of like it," he whispered and rubbed his own clean shaved cheek against the hair before pulling back to look, "it's pretty hot."

"Mm, maybe I'll leave it on," Harry smiled, leaning towards him and pressing their lips together again. Draco kissed him softly, his mouth sliding open against Harry's and his tongue soon found it's way against the other's to deepen the kiss. His fingers were pulling on the soft, damp locks feeling Harry beneath him as if he never had before. Harry was all response, more then he had been ever before. His hands were hard against Draco's body, the two chest to chest for the time being. But before he knew it he was following Draco onto the bed. When they finally pulled back, Draco was laying against Harry's chest while Harry rubbed his back.

"Did you hear, Ron proposed before you left on Monday?" Draco asked after a quiet moment, glancing up at Harry.

"I did, it was in the middle of the Department of Mysteries."

"Why? What's that mean to them?"

"We fought Death Eaters there during our 6th Year, and he said that was when he realized he couldn't live without her."

"I told you," Draco smiled, "always someplace with sentiment is better than a bar."

Harry smiled rolling his eyes, "I'm exhausted, Draco."

"Me too," he whispered, "can I tell you how hot you are tomorrow?"

Harry hummed, bending his head to kiss Draco again - this one softer, quicker, "I'll allow a rain check." The blonde smiled, grabbing the covers and tucking the both of them under it, "I slept like shit without you."

"Yeah," Draco nodded, he had actually slept really well but he wouldn't say that. It had been quiet and comfortable. Harry was abrupt and loud when he slept but it wasn't the same. Harry was warm, and always too close, and his hair tickled Draco's arms when he snuggled him in his sleep, and his heavy legs were like blankets to keep Draco safe. His lips were always so soft in the morning when they woke him up, he was Draco's life. "Me too."


And, On The Next Episode...

Where have Draco and Harry gone? (This isn't 'Where's Waldo?'!), also, who is tall, dark, and handsome over in the corner..?

Guys, this started out as a joke fic. Like it was literally going to be about Draco and Harry doing the deed over the course of like five chapters. Now I'm 9 chapters in and already got like 2 or 3 more planned. At least. Just, thank you all so so sososos much. ~ kiz