Author's Note: As promised, another chapter. It's all part of my master plan to procrastinate and do whatever possible to avoid studying for exams. I actually quite like this chapter, but, I must admit, the next one is even better :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Even Gabriel is gone now.

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"What happens to a man is less significant than what happens within him."

-Louis L. Mann

Harry watched as the blonde swallowed his third shot, his usually tidy hair sticking out in a few spots, his pale cheeks flushed from the vodka, his stormy grey eyes hooded and frustrated. Finally, he cleared his throat. "Malfoy about earlier…."

"Who Pansy fucks is none of my business, Potter. She doesn't get emotionally attached, thank Merlin, or I'd spend half of my time altering men's faces." He picked up his forth shot and gulped it down greedily, two still full and waiting on the bar.

"Why were you in my office? I told Ginny I was not to be disturbed." Harry's cheeks were burning in embarrassment but his initial guard had lowered as it became clear Malfoy was just going to, more or less, ignore the incriminating situation he had walked in on ten minutes ago.

Draco snorted at the words. "Yes, you were obviously cock-deep in state affairs." Another shot. "Look, Weasley won't even spare me a glance, so there was no way she was going to try to stop me from going into your office. I hate to break it to you, Potter, but your little weasel's pride is of the highest importance to her."

Harry chewed his tongue and settled more easily into the chair. He quickly ordered two firewhiskeys; Malfoy had run out of shots. This situation should have been awkward—Malfoy and he were at a muggle bar drinking together—but Harry found himself so relieved that Draco couldn't care less about finding him and Pansy about to make love on his desk, that he was actually starting to feel quite at ease. He downed the firewhiskey to help calm his remaining nerves. "So," he said at last, "why exactly are you and I drinking together?"

Malfoy ordered them four more drinks and turned his grey eyes to the minister. He mumbled something before downing the glass that the bartender had just set in front of him. When Harry didn't respond, Malfoy sighed and repeated himself. "I need your advice."

Harry choked on his drink. Words that he had never, in his wildest dreams, imagined leaving the spoiled, arrogant man had just reached his ears—and he was still sober. Slowly, he turned his eyes back to his companion, studying the hunched-over figure downing drink after drink. "Why would the great Draco Malfoy need my help?"

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Come off it, Potter. Yes, we have our differences. Yes, one might say we hate each other. Yes, I just walked in on you trying to fuck my friend. Despite all of this, there are times when even a rich man must forget his pride and kneel before the beggar. I had hoped for it to never happen in my lifetime and I am sure my father is rolling over in his grave, but…Merlin, I have truly reached a new low." He reached out and gulped down another firewhiskey.

His mind was sparking with curiosity, but he smartly remained quiet, nodding for Malfoy to go on. "You want to shag Pansy?"

Cheeks burning, Harry reluctantly nodded. Malfoy and he would never be on amiable terms, but enough years had passed that they had learned to just cut to the chase with each other and save themselves the effort of bickering. Since Harry had recruited Malfoy when he had become Minister, they had tried their best to brush off the past and attempt to cohabitate in the same universe.

"Well, I'll help you with Pansy." He chuckled into his drink. "I know she's shagged a lot of men, but I never imagined she would run out and lower herself to your standards so soon." Harry ignored the jibe, reminding himself that Draco was drinking and as such, it was hard to fight old habits.

"Did you not understand what you walked in on earlier? I don't think I really need help with Pansy, do you?"

Malfoy smirked. "Being the savior of the Wizarding World has done wonders for your pride, Potter. It almost makes me wonder why you weren't a Slytherin." His slender pale hand brought another glass to his lips and he downed its contents, signaling the bartender for more. Harry finished up his second firewhiskey. "Speaking of people who should have been Slytherins, you and Weasley used to date, right?"

Harry narrowed his eyes and nodded suspiciously, wondering why in the world Malfoy was drowning his sorrows on account of Ginny. He soon found his answer.

"I need your advice on how to…you know…get on her good side. I may have done something to piss the siren off."

"Why do you care? I mean, why does it matter if Ginny likes you or not? If you're worried about working with her temper, I can relieve you of your duty and get someone else—"

"Potter, do us a favor and shut up. I am being—what's the word?—ah, humble and you need to just keep your mouth shut, Minister, and let me get it out." He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead with his hand. "Merlin, I may be drunk." He reached out and grabbed the last remaining firewhiskey and quickly downed it. Leaning forward, he trapped Harry with a pointed stare and smiled wickedly. "I want Weasley."

Harry pulled back. "I'm sorry?"

Draco chortled. "I want to fuck her brains out, just like you do, Pansy. We're adults now, Minster and we should be allowed to fuck whoever we want, right? No Hogwarts, no house rivalries, no war. Why can't I have her?"

Despite Malfoy's obviously less than honorable intentions towards Ginny, Harry's lips turned upwards a bit. "Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" Malfoy's eyebrows creased in thought. "Ginny is a grown woman, Malfoy. Although I think sleeping with you is well below her, if she wants to, so be it. As you said, we should be allowed to fuck whoever we want."

"Language, Potter."

Harry rolled his eyes at his increasingly intoxicated colleague. "What did you do to piss Gin off?"

Malfoy waved his hand nonchalantly. "That is between her and me. I need you to tell me how to fix it."

"Did she ever like you in the first place? I'm not sure even I can fix twenty-four years of mutual hatred. In fact, it might even be ingrained in her blood."

"Potter…."

Harry chucked, enjoying Malfoy's discomfort at having to ask him for help. As to Malfoy's sudden interest in Ginny, well, he would have to think on that later, when his head wasn't clouded in a haze of alcohol and lust. "I'll tell you what she likes," he conceded at last. "But that is all I can do for you, Malfoy. And Pansy?"

"I thought you didn't need help with her? Or did I not see her squirming under you, begging for you to end her misery?" Draco's grin was knowing and taunting.

The bartender cleared the empty glasses in front of them and Harry ordered four more fire-whiskeys. "I'm not drunk enough for this discussion."

"Then drink, Minister." Draco leaned closer, his pale grey eyes twinkling in the barlight. "I know exactly what you need to do to satisfy Pansy, Potter. I promise you, she will be begging you for more. But first, tell me, when did this whole thing between you and Pansy start?"

Harry reached for the new drink and gulped it uneasily. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with giving you advice in order to get into Ginny's knickers. She's like my little sister."

"A little sister you shag on occasion?" At Harry's reddening cheeks, Malfoy smirked. "Everybody knew, Potter. In fact, most still think you two have a romp in the sack on occasion."

Harry heard the unsaid 'except me' in Malfoy's words and he lowered his head to hide his guilty red flush. "Just tell me why is has to be Ginny, Malfoy," he said at last, his gaze concentrated on the brown liquid in his glass. "Like I said, what Ginny does is her own business, and I have no doubt that she'll turn you down outright, no matter how charming you think you are."

Malfoy held back a glare and responded simply, "I always get what I want and right now, I want Ginny Weasley."

"But why?"

"Because she is the one thing I shouldn't." His voice was slurred slightly with alcohol, but his eyes were still clear and Harry knew that Malfoy was not easily affected by alcohol. He was speaking honestly and the Minister was a bit taken aback at the dragon's sincerity.

Harry sighed and finished another firewhiskey before replying softly, "I think, Malfoy, I know exactly what you mean."

Author's Note: Hope you guys enjoyed it and I hope you'll review, I haven't had any of those in a while. The next chapter is written (a 2.30am product that I am very fond of) and I will try to put it up soon, however it might be the only one I give you this month as I do actually have exams and packing and end-of-the-year things to do. Until then, take care, my lovelies.