Harry wakes to the sound of rain thundering down onto the windows. The light creeping past the curtains is faint, despite the clock reading 10:38 am. He rolls over in bed, pulling a pillow over his face as he attempts to wake his brain up. Sleepy-eyed, he stumbles over to the curtains, yanking them open and peering past the raindrop-splattered pane out into the morning. Low-lying banks of clouds are a dark, angry grey, pouring sheet after sheet of rain down onto the city. Down below, passers-by scurry past, creating a sea of black umbrellas weaving along the drenched pavement. Through the window, the tower blocks and rows of brick housing look soaked through, as if in the middle of a washing cycle, a frantic attempt to give London back it's shine.

The kettle starts to boil, momentarily drowning out the sound of the rain as Harry leans against the counter, yawning. A cup of coffee in his hand, he pads back into the sitting room and slumps down on the sofa. The flat is empty again, Ginny probably working the morning shift at the hospital and Harry turns on the radio for some much-welcome background noise. Video Games by Lana Del Rey fills the room as Harry sits and sips his coffee. A quiet start to a rainy morning. He reaches over to the coffee table, picking up his laptop and starting it up, resisting the increasing urge to pick up his phone. His screensaver never fails to make him smile, a beautiful picture of Teddy, his godson, with an adorable grin and that messy blue hair. Clicking his email account open, Harry groans at the huge pile of work emails in his inbox and starts quickly scanning them. He's still not awake enough to face actually reading every single one. An email from Adam with a subject in capitals catches his attention.

To: harryjpotter

From: adamspencer

Subject: *IMPORTANT* NEW MISSION DETAILS

Alright, you lazy bugger,

I know you skipped the last meeting, but they asked me to email you with the mission details cause there's more of a chance you'll look at something I've sent you than actually bother to get your arse into HQ. Why the hell haven't you been answering your phone? Let's get to the point…

From 14th to 23rd of December (so they say)

Somewhere in the Yorkshire moors (very vague, but what's new?)

Not too dangerous, just some rumoured sightings (apparently)

You, me and a couple of other idiots (sounds like fun)

The usual boring paperwork is attached, sign quickly and send back before the big bosses start planning your next near-death experience.

xAx

P.S Thank your friend (boyfriend yet?) for the latest gentleman companion. Very easy on the eyes, I rate him 10/10.

Harry laughs, reaching for a notepad and scribbling down the details. He's always hated missions at Christmas time. Hermione really starts getting on his case about safety; she's especially maternal during the holiday season. He really doesn't need the extra nagging. The thought of nine days out on the freezing, misty moors, seeking out shadows is already making him shiver. Last year in early December, he got sent to some remote Scottish island where he sat for a week in the rain, watching sheep until some loony villager finally confirmed that the lurking dementor they had seen had actually just been a rather large crow.

Harry's phone buzzes, breaking through his memories and making his heart jump with excitement when Draco's name flashes up on the screen. In the process of getting his phone to his ear, Harry manages to drop it face-down onto his laptop, where it bounces off and slides under the couch.

'Damndamndamn,' Harry mutters into the phone after attempting a precarious dive onto the floor to retrieve it before it stops ringing.

'Erm, Harry?' Draco's voice sounds both confused and on the verge of laughter. 'Are you ok?'

'Oh, fine, fine. Dropped the bloody phone. How you doing, Draco?,'

'Good, I think. Hate this weather though. The office is filled with dripping umbrellas and everyone is grumpy. Typical London december weather. It's freezing but there's no snow, instead we get torrential rain,' Draco's laugh echoes down the phone, making Harry grin.

'Well, what time do you finish work today? Maybe you, erm, would want to come over, I don't know, for dinner or something?' Harry stumbles over the words, feeling heat rush to his cheeks as Draco snorts.

'Merlin, Harry, was it that difficult? You are such a flop sometimes. I mean, it's not like you can really be shy with me over the phone. It's not the 1800's. I thought we had gotten past the shy stage. You're usually not shy with me in person, are you?' The leer in Draco's voice darkens Harry's blush.

'Stop teasing me, you asshole. This is kinda new territory for me. I mean, you of all people should be able to understand. And I can't help being awkward, personality trait I'm afraid. Just means I'm not an overconfident prick like you. And anyway, you still haven't answered my question,'

'I like your awkwardness, Harry. Well, most of the time. Sometimes, it's downright embarrassing. I was just teasing. And, to answer you question, I would love to come over later. I should be able to make it for 6,' Draco's voice softens at Harry's irritable tone, and Harry can hear his gentle laughter down the phone.

'I'll get Ginny to make us something. I'm not going to subject you to my cooking just yet,' Harry grins.

'Well, perfect. I have to work all this week and getting food poisoning was not on my to-do list,'

'Well, if that's how you feel, maybe I will just uninvite you,'

'You can't uninvite me! A Malfoy is never uninvited. Take that back!'

'Alright, alright. You can come IF you promise to behave,'

'Who said anything about behaving?' Draco's voice is dark, sending shivers down Harry's spine.

'Uh, uh, uh, Draco, no. I actually need to talk to you so how about everything stays PG,'

'What kind of conversation?' Draco's voice is nervous, wary.

'Nothing serious, Draco. Just want to let you know about a couple of things,' Harry is quick to reassure, picking up on the note of unease in Draco's voice.

'That's ok, then,' Draco's voice is soft and sweet. 'I'll see you later,'

'I'll be waiting,'

:

:

:

Ginny arrives home, windblown and rain-soaked. She shakes her umbrella at Harry, who is lying comatose on the sofa, covering him in tiny, icy droplets. Ginny laughs at his disgruntled face, launching herself down on the sofa beside him and sighing contentedly. Harry decides to cut straight to the chase.

'Soooo, Ginny. Draco's coming over later and you know how absolutely awful my cooking is. And I really want to impress him,' He cajoles.

'Harry, no. I'm shattered. I've just got in,'

'You can stay and interrogate him,' Harry wheedles.

'Sold. What do you want me to make for you two pigs?' She giggles, her head falling back and resting on the sofa cushions.

'That is up to you, sweetheart. Just whatever we have ingredients for. I'm not braving the weather to go out to the shops. It's disgusting,'

'How would you know, Mr-I-Haven't-Left-The-Flat-All-Day? I actually envy you so much sometimes. If it wasn't for the insanely dangerous tasks they send you out on,'

'Gin, about that. Erm, I got an email from Adam with new details from the bosses. I'm not going to be gone for very long, 9 days or something. I'll be back in time for Christmas,'

Ginny groans, burying her face in the cushion. 'Seriously? You'll freeze this time of the year. Unless you're being sent to Australia. Are you being sent to Australia?'

'Yorkshire, actually,' Harry laughs.

'Well, at least you'll be back in time for Christmas. Hermione would go absolutely crazy if you aren't there,' Her face grows serious. 'Harry, stay safe out there. Promise me you'll be careful,'

'Ginny, love, I promise. There is no need to worry, leave that up to Hermione, eh?' Harry wraps an arm around her slim shoulders.

'Have you told Draco yet?'

'No, I only got the info this morning. I'm going to tell him later though,' Harry pushes his hair out of his eyes and Ginny straightens up, face lighting up in excitement.

'Ooh, I know! You should totally invite him over to Hermione and Ron's for Christmas with us!'

'Ginny, he probably already has plans. Anyway I don't know if we're that kind of serious yet,'

'Well, what's he gonna do, go visit his dad in Azkaban on Christmas morning or something?' Ginny's tone is scathing. 'And if you don't think you're that kind of serious yet, what the hell has been going on for the past month? I highly doubt you're just friends,' She rolls her eyes in his direction.

'Not friends, just no status yet. Still unchartered territory for both of us, really. And I will talk to him about that tonight too,'