Chapter Ten

The perfect place

The next morning the sun was shining and Harry was smiling. He strolled into work feeling confident that today nothing could bring him down. However… he was very, very wrong.

Ron burst into his office as soon as he got there, giving Harry no time to get a cup of tea and sit down peacefully at his desk. "Ron, what are you doing here? You don't work on a Saturday" He asked confused. Ron was out of breath and stopped in the doorway with a look on his face that made Harry worried. "What?" He prepared himself for the worst.

"There's been another killing" Harry raised his eyebrows in shock and slid his jacket back on ready to go investigate the scene. "Harry" Ron's voice faltered like he didn't know how to say something, or like he was going to start crying… maybe both of those by the look on his face.

"What is it?"

"It's Olivier" Harry's jaw dropped in shock and disbelief. This couldn't be happening. He felt his legs wobble beneath him and he clutched the desk to keep himself up. How the hell could this happen? Olivier was a nice man and a good Auror, why would someone want to set out to kill him? "Common mate, we need to be at the crime scene" Ron said softly with a frown upon his face.

"This isn't right" Harry said as he walked towards Ron.

"It's a shock to us all, we just need to find the bastard who did this and make sure he's locked up for good." Harry followed him out of the office and apparated to their destination which he thought was probably Olivier's house. The outside looked untouched, but they were in the right place because muggle police were outside with Robards and an Auror Harry recognised as Elliot walked out of the front door.

"Potter, Weasley, go on inside, see what you can figure out from the mess" Robards shouted from across the front garden. The two men did exactly what they were told. Inside the house was indeed a complete mess, a whole wall had partly crashed down, the rubble was everywhere, mixed in with the glass of the back windows and all the furniture in ruins.

"So the killer came in from the back door" Harry muttered to Ron as he looked around. "And obviously Olivier put up a good fight."

"Obviously, he's an Auror, I'm surprised he didn't survive this with the killer binded up and ready for Azkaban"

They walked into the dining room to find a scene they would have rather not have seen. But they needed to anyway to inspect the bodies. Olivier and another guy were laid down on the floor side by side. Maybe this guy was Patrick, Olivier's partner, the dark haired man thought. Harry looked at Olivier's lifeless face and felt a tear escape from his eye and roll down his cheek "It's unfair."

Ron placed a hand on his shoulder "I know mate, he was a nice lad". He went back into the room and started moving some rubble around, searching for anything that might be of use. Harry disliked Ron for living him to deal with the bodies, but he didn't say anything. He checked the men's pockets, shoes and sleeves first, and just as he thought, their wands were gone. Robards walked in, in that moment.

"Sorry you guys have to do this"

"Sir, were the wands taken from the men already?" Harry asked.

"No we have left it to you, the other Aurors are here because it happened early this morning, and when the neighbours reported that they heard a fight going on here they came as soon as possible to try to catch the bastard."

"No luck I guess?" Ron asked.

"No, disaparated before we could get a chance to stop them."

"Their wands have been taken like the last killings, I would suspect the same killer" Harry checked again for a wand but there were none in site. "Ron…" Harry said looking at the body of Olivier. He paused for a moment in thought. "Do you think the killers targeting same sex couples?"

Ron stood in silence for a moment before he spoke, Robards at his side doing the exact same thing. "That would make sense, all the victims so far have been after all" Harry looked closer at Olivier, poor guy didn't deserve this. But then he wondered if the killer knew about Draco and himself, he doubted it as his friends didn't even know, and they haven't even been on their first date yet, but it still made him a little scared nonetheless.

"Good thinking Potter" Robards said with a big smile which Harry had never seen before, he was usually so miserable, or angry at someone. "This is why your assistant head."

"Thank you sir, but it's just my job"

"And you're bloody darn good at it I say" Harry couldn't help but think back to the documents Robards made him do again and again because it wasn't perfect. The man then left the house and left the two men with the two dead bodies.

"What do we do? Warn every gay man and women out there?" Ron asked looking down at the faces of the corpses.

"No, we just need to capture this guy before he can do anything else."

"That's 4 men dead Harry, and we have no idea who he could be or where he is"

"I know Ron" he said annoyed. "But were going to have to try harder aren't we?"

"Of course" Ron left the room again and then so did Harry. After another search around the house they only found out some of the spells the killer used, again using Incendio, yet there were no burn marks on the victims, so they must have dodged it. Harry went back to his office feeling in a completely different mood than he did this morning. The only comfort he got was a rolled up piece of parchment with a black ribbon.

Harry,

The L'endroit parfait at seven tonight alright with you?

Draco.

Harry knew exactly where he meant, the restaurant had only opened a few months back and apparently it was hard to get a reservation for weeks, let alone the same day. It made Harry laugh when he read it in a muggle paper one day walking around the shops, apparently it's called 'The Perfect Place' in French. Why did he think of Olivier in that moment? He was French yes, but he thought he remembered Olivier mentioning the place to him once.. ah yes he mentioned something about it outside of Lucius' questioning. Olivier said how the food was 'exquisite' and 'divine'… for a guy with such little English he had impressed Harry with such words.

Harry replied to Draco right away.

Draco,

Have had a really tough morning, I need a good meal and something to take my mind off of it, so yes of course. But how did you manage to get a reservation for tonight? It's a busy place, and it must have cost a fortune, I better skip desert and only have one drink if I'm to pay for it.

Harry.

He sent it off by one of the ministry's owls and sat back in his office chair thinking. This morning really was horrible and he couldn't get his mind off of it so he tried to think of Draco and tonight's plans. He hoped it all went well after the day he's had so far. The other mans reply was quick, and came with the same desk ruining owl it did the other day. Harry quickly grabbed some treats and threw them in front of the brown fluffy creature. It was really hard to hate with its cute wide eyes.

Harry,

You will have to tell me all about it tonight, it hurts to hear that and I hope you're ok.

And shut up you daft idiot, of course you will have desert and as much drink as you like! The whole night is on me. Let's just say I have connections.

Draco.

P.S. Please tell who ever trains the Ministry owls they're doing a crap job, the owl you sent broke a chandelier by flying into it.

Harry laughed and wasted no time and set quill to parchment to write his reply.

Draco,

I'll be fine don't you worry, but are you sure you want to pay for the whole thing? I'll quite happily chip in, I'm not poor you know. You and your bloody connections, I swear you know everyone? And I thought this was a muggle restaurant, you know a muggle?

Harry.

P.S. Good, your bird keeps eating my desk and now it has marks and dents in it. Now were even.

Again the reply was quick and came with the same brown owl. Harry smiled at the black ribbon and opened it up.

Harry,

I'm taking you on this date, it's my treat. You can take us for a round of drinks another day if you so wish.

Wizards and Witches work in muggle places as well Potter. But yes I know a muggle, I told you I don't believe in all that anymore.

P.S. I'm pretty sure a chandelier costs more than a wooden office desk? But no worries I'll buy you a new one.

It was all about spending money with Draco, did he think happiness could be bought with Galleons? At least he was letting Harry pay for a round of drinks, although he would insist on paying for more than one round to cover the cost of tonight. He smiled and left the conversation via Owl at that, he needed to do some work before Robards came in and took back his comment about being 'Bloody darn good' at his job.

Once he had finished up at work he went home to get ready for the nights events. He hopped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist when he heard Hermione's voice coming from the floo.

"Harry, are you home?"

"Yeah I am" he walked into his flats living room and saw Hermione's face in the fireplace at the far end of the room.

"Oh you were taking a shower, no worries ill call back later, sorry" She apologised.

"I won't be here later, I'm going out. Come on through if you like, I'll just go get changed" Hermione walked through the floo and Harry headed towards his bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar so she could speak and he would hear her.

"Where are you going later?" She called.

"Out with a friend for some drinks" He lied. He was getting awfully good a lying to people and he hated it, but for now he could only see how it would be a horrible idea to tell the truth.

"Do I know them?"

"No, it's a muggle friend from before Hogwarts" He pulled a pair of trousers on.

"Harry you didn't have friends before Hogwarts"

"Thanks Hermione"

"It's only the truth and you know it" He heard her closer to the door. "Who are you really meeting?" She asked softly.

"Does it really matter?" He felt he couldn't keep the muggle friend lie going, so he gave up on that.

"I'm not going to lie to you Harry" That made him feel worse. "But Ron and I have been talking lately and…"

"And?"

"He's worried you're keeping something from us, and to be honest after that lie just then I think he may be right"

He slid a shirt on and opened the door. "Hermione" He spoke calmly as he looked into her eyes that could see right through a person. "I would just like to keep some things private you know?"

"That's understandable, but you know if you need to speak to anyone we're here right?"

"I know that" He smiled and went into his bathroom to try to fix his hair; she followed him and leant her back against the door frame.

"Again I'm going to be honest with you" Please stop that. Harry thought, feeling bad enough she saw right through his own lie. "We think you're seeing someone"

"Ok?" he looked at her again, to see where she was going with this.

"Harry, you're technically with Ginny" She frowned and looked like it was her who had just seen her colleague dead on the floor this morning.

"I'm not with Ginny, Hermione"

"Does she know that? She talks about you like your together, and when you are you treat her as if she's a girlfriend. Don't mess that girl around Harry, you're not that type of person so don't start making bad decisions which make you that person." Harry always dreaded a lecture from Hermione.

"I'll speak to her soon"

"Please don't turn into a liar too"

"I promise Hermione, I will speak to her soon." He returned to fixing his hair but didn't know why he was bothering; it wasn't going to stay in one place. He let out a moan of frustration and threw his wand in the sink.

"Come here" Hermione pulled out her own wand and attempted to fix the man's hair. Surprisingly - or not so surprisingly as it was Hermione - she managed to calm it down quite a bit.

"Thanks Mione"

"Please just promise me you will be careful?"

"I promise" He reassured her.

"And you will do the right thing?"

"Yes!" He moaned picking up his wand, walking past her and out of the bathroom. "Please just stop this; everything will be fine in the end"

"I just don't want my future sister in law and my friend to get hurt in the process." Harry gave her a look and she shut up. "Ron and I are going to have a meal in tonight, so if you need anything you will have to wait till tomorrow"

"Ok have fun"

"And you" She muttered not too confidently. "And Harry?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry to hear about Olivier, I know you've lost a lot of people and it must be hard" She really did look apologetic and sad for his and Ron's loss.

"Thank you" He bowed his head in thought of Olivier once more, he somewhat wished she hadn't bought him up, he wasn't ready for it and he didn't think it properly sunk in yet. Then she walked towards the fire place and took the Floo home. Harry would keep to his word and talk to Ginny next week. But tonight he wanted to be with Draco.

10 minutes past by and he was ready to leave the flat and meet the blonde at the restaurant. He apparated to behind the building and had to climb a small wall to get round. He was a few minutes early but he didn't mind waiting around for the man. As he reached the front of the building he saw Draco already there waiting for him. As soon as he saw Harry he smiled and his eyes twinkled under the street lights.

"Hey you" Draco stepped forward and kissed the other man on the cheek.

"Hey"

"Common, let's get inside and you can tell me all about this horrible morning" he placed his hand at the bottom of Harry's back for a moment which made Harry shiver with pleasure, then dropped it and lead the way inside. It was hard to think just over a week ago Malfoy wasn't part of his life anymore since the war, and now here he was making Harry feel all warm and nervous inside. If someone told him 2 years back that he would be on a date with Malfoy in a muggle scene, he would have hexed them to death.

They went straight in and got seated near the back. It looked like the perfect romantic date, with a candle placed in the middle of the table. "Will you two be drinking wine tonight sir?" The waitress asked Draco.

"Yes, a bottle of your best" Harry looked at him to tell him no, it's too expensive but of course the git didn't look at him in that moment.

"Certainly, I'll be back to take your starter orders in a short moment" then she left the two men sat opposite each other at the table.

"Draco you really don't have to go expensive on me" He whispered because the rest of the room were also talking somewhat quietly to their dates.

"What makes you think I bought the expensive wine for your benefit?" Draco teased.

"Shut up" Harry couldn't help but smile at the cheeky look on his dates face. Once the starter was finished with, the waitress took the plates away and the conversation on Draco's family started. "So where have you and your family been these last two years? You went a little quiet?"

"Mother took a long vacation to France" France had to come up again didn't it? What was it about that place? "But she's back at the Manor now"

"And your father?"

"He's been in the Manor, not really doing much other than reading. Like I said, he's very personal these days, keeping himself to himself." He saw the look the other man gave him and added "But you need not to worry, I've been looking into the subjects he reads about, apparently he's into Chess."

"Chess?"

"Yes, once mother was back she found that she could be beaten quite easily. Never a fun game when she loses anymore" He laughed a little.

"And you? What have you been doing before you got the job at the paper?"

"I would walk the Manor's gardens; sit reading in the Library with my father, boring stuff really. But what about you, what have you been up to?" Harry couldn't help but think Draco wasn't revealing it all, 2 years stuck in one building that would surely give you nightmares and he's telling Harry he just read books and walked around?

"Started Auror training as soon as I could, been working ever since."

"What did you do for fun?"

"Um, I went around the Weasley's"

"Oh yes, bet that was packed full of fun" He rolled his eyes and smirked, he couldn't stop the sarcasm from rolling off of his tongue.

"It actually was, we used to go out in the garden and play Quidditch, or play exploding snap. The funniest part was when we would mess around with products from Georges shop." He smiled as he remembered the times that happened.

"You sound like this was all in the past?"

"I don't go round much anymore, never have the time with work"

"You need a break Harry, you always seem to be working and it can't be good for you"

"I'm fine"

"You and saving the world come as a package, don't they?" Harry laughed as their main meals were brought out. "So tell me why your morning was so crap then?"

"Um" Harry's head suddenly hurt and he didn't feel like eating. "Was called to a murder this morning" Draco's eyebrows rose. "Yeah, it was my colleague and his partner"

"Harry I'm so sorry" Draco put down his cutlery and looked at the other man with sincere eyes. "That must have been terrible"

"Yeah, wasn't the highlight of my career" He massaged his head, hoping that would somehow remove the headache.

"Any idea who the killer could be?"

"No not a clue, and that's what worries me, there's four people dead now and we have nothing."

"Four?" He asked shocked.

"Yeah, 2 couples"

"They must be targeting couples then, but I wonder why someone would do such a thing"

"We think they're targeting same sex couples, the victims so far have all been men" Harry explained and Draco sat back in his seat, forced into shock once more. "I need to find this guy before he can kill again." Draco looked down at the table in silence while Harry took a bite out of his steak. "What?"

"Bit worrying isn't it?"

"I guess so. But try not to think about it, let's just enjoy this meal?" Harry smiled and they both carried on eating and drinking wine. When the Desert was bought out Harry was very full, so Draco said they could share one. The chocolate pudding was placed in the centre of the table, moving the candle to the side and they both had a spoon.

"This is good" The pale man said after a spoonful.

"Are you one of these people that can eat loads but still stay skinny?"

"I guess so" They laughed. Harry was struggling but he wasn't going to turn down the spoonful Draco offered him. The blonde held his spoon forward "This is the last brownie, you want it?"

"You sure?" Draco moved it towards Harry's mouth, his arm reaching across the table as they both leant in. Harry took it in his mouth and ate it. It was the best piece of brownie he had in a very long time. Then he looked into Draco's eyes once more. Those perfect eyes. "Why has it just become so easy with you?"

Draco put his spoon on the empty plate and smiled. "I think" he started "I think that with everything that has gone on, this feels easy" Harry gave him a questioning look that said please explain more as I don't fully understand. "We've been through hell and back Harry, life's been hard. This…" He motioned between them "This would be hard if we chose to make it, but I reckon were accepting are feelings because we could do without the struggle of getting through life now. It's easy because we've been through so much together even though on different sides, and we can relate."

"When did you get so deep?" He laughed.

"Sorry, I've been getting into my writing as well as photography, that's why I was pleased to get the opportunity to write about the attack the day of the interview. I guess Seb helped me because I also wrote about the interview and they were impressed."

"Well done, I'm proud of you"

"Thanks" Draco whispered trying so hard not to break into a massive grin that would end up making him look like an idiot on too much pudding.

"For everything, you've really grown up and I'm sorry I didn't see that before. I was stuck in the past, and you're right, we should move on."

"And so we are Harry" He lifted his glass "So we are."