I know I'm very late but life is hectic and I'm just too busy! I'm sorry!

CHAPTER 14

It was 4 pm and Harry knocked on Draco's door. It took a long while but after fifteen minutes of knocking, a sleepy Draco with ruffled hair opened the door, squinting at the light from the hall. His shirt was wrinkled and his eyes were puffy, hardly open. He was sporting a questioning look on his face coupled with a frown. Harry thought he looked very cute like this.

Draco waited for Potter to say something but when Potter just stared at him with a goofy grin on his face, Draco became aware of his disheveled appearance. Potter was probably laughing at his rumpled state. He hastily smoothed down his shirt and hair, glaring at the bespectacled git.

"If you're grinning at my appearance, you can stop it now." Draco stated irritatedly.

"No, you look very cute actually."

As soon as the words were out, Harry clamped his mouth shut. Just why does he sometimes speak without thinking?! He watched as Draco's eyes widened and his eyebrows went up... and up... and up... and almost disappeared in his hairline.

"Um... I came to tell you that it's already four and you missed lunch. I thought you might be hungry... so yeah..."

"Did you forget my first rule? Don't disturb me when I'm inside." Draco snapped and closed the door on Potter's face.

Now he definitely knew Potter was mocking him. That stupid mutt! How dare he! Draco walked to the dresser and stood in front of it, scrutinizing his image.

He didn't look that bad now, did he? Sure, his clothes weren't neatly pressed but his hair was a lot better than Potter's bird's nest... but what slightly felt odd were his eyes. They were the same smoky grey but there was no life behind them. Draco remembered them being the lustrous colour of a polished shard of metal, having the capacity to pierce the onlooker with a single glare... now they were just monochrome. The ice behind them had melted long ago, he knew that, but he hadn't expected them to look so...void. These vacant grey orbs with tinges of blue at the edges scared him...these can't be his eyes...this can't be him...

Harry moved away from the door, cursing. He was about to move into his room when he stopped in the middle of the corridor. What was he doing? Malfoy had the audacity to shut the door on his face and he was not even bothered. That wasn't right.

He turned around and rapped his knuckles on the door hard.

"Malfoy! Open the bloody door!"

No reply.

"Malfoy, open the door or I'll force my way in, don't think I won't!"

Harry waited for exact ten seconds before pulling out his wand and doing a non verbal Alohomora. The door swung open and Harry marched in to find Draco in front of the mirror.

"I'm telling you, Malfoy, this attitude of yours is not going to work here, it's..." Harry cut himself off because it didn't seem like Malfoy was listening. He was busy staring into the mirror.

"Malfoy?"

No answer.

"Malfoy!"

No answer yet again. Malfoy was still engrossed in his reflection.

Oh come on! Harry wasn't in the mood to play.

"I know you're too busy admiring yourself, but I don't have time for this, Malfoy!"

And Malfoy was brought back to reality by a sharp poke to the shoulder.

"Wha...?" Malfoy appeared confused for a moment before his eyes cleared and he shot a sharp glare at Harry and his lips curled in disgust. For a moment Harry felt like he was seeing the same snarky Draco Malfoy from school who believed everyone to be beneath him.

"Potter. How the fuck did you get in?"

"I'm a wizard, Malfoy." Harry said simply, rolling his eyes.

"Very funny, Potter!" spat Malfoy. " Now get out."

Harry folded his hands, rooting himself to the spot and glared back as hard as he could, trying to compete with Malfoy eventhough he knew his glare was no match for his.

"I said get out Potter!" Malfoy gritted out.

"Make me." shrugged Harry and Draco was all for it. He walked the two steps towards Harry and shoved him back with all his might. Harry hadn't been expecting that and he fell flat on his ass with a 'whoof'. His auror instinct kicked in and he pulled out his wand within a fraction of a second, pointing it straight at Malfoy.

Malfoy looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Going to attack someone who's unarmed? Where is the Gryffindor chivalry?" he smirked and Harry desperately wanted to wipe that smirk off his face.

He threw the wand to the side, raising himself off the ground and punched Malfoy in the face causing him to stagger back a few steps...and that was the final blow.

Malfoy lunged at Harry, jabbing him in the ribs with his knee. His eyes watering, he avoided one flying fist only to collide with another in the stomach and Harry's breath left him in a whoosh.

Harry knocked Malfoy to the ground and in return Malfoy kicked him in the shin, pulling him to the floor as well and climbing atop him but Harry was quicker and stronger. He rolled him off and straddled his lap, attempting to restrain his hands at the same time. Despite his attempt, Malfoy's elbow connected with his jaw and there was a sickening crack.

Draco knew Potter can easily overpower him but he wasn't going to give up without a fight...because this, this fighting with Potter had a familiar ring to it, this is what he's always done and this brought comfort to that unsettling feeling from moments before...because those empty eyes had disturbed him way too much.

Potter was now sporting a split lip, his cheekbone was bloody and swollen and it was evident that his jaw was broken. He was now gripping Draco's hands above his head and before Draco could try to loosen his grip, Potter pulled his fist back and punched Draco in the face, successfully breaking his nose.

Draco dodged his next punch and headbutted him across the face and the force made Draco himself see stars for a second but when his eyes cleared, he found Potter leaning against the foot of the bed, clutching his face.

Draco made to stand up but Potter stuck his foot out and Draco went crashing to the floor, twisting his foot in the process. The next second, Draco bashed Potter's head on the opposite wall and Potter went limp in Draco's arms.

Harry was happily flying in the air. The sun was setting and Harry could make out someone flying ahead, the rays of light reflecting off of his blond hair, giving him a ghostly appearance. The figure was moving very fast and now Harry could only see his silhouette.

Harry leant forward on his broom, speeding to catch up with the figure. Something told him that this was a race and he wasn't going to give up. He moved as fast as his broom would allow. The wind whipped his hair, blurring his vision for a moment and Harry hastily brushed the strands aside.

He was nearing the man now and before he could realise what was happening, the man took a steep U- turn, directly heading towards Harry and in an attempt to avoid crashing into him, Harry abruptly pulled left and lost balance.

He slipped off the broom and was now falling through the air, the wind roaring in his ears, he felt like it was taking him forever to reach the ground. Darkness was closing in on him from all sides and before he could reach the ground, the man caught him and pulled him up. Disoriented for a second, Harry gazed into his soft grey eyes, the same shade of a stormy sky and he stared back with what Harry could only describe as reverence. This staring contest went on for what seemed like hours but could have been only a minute. Neither blinked.

The blond figure then leaned forward, slowly, inch by inch...until his lips lightly brushed him. You could hardly describe it as a kiss, it was over before it even started, but all in all, it was divine.

"Enervate" whispered the blond figure.

And Harry opened his eyes slowly, only to look into the same grey orbs again.

Draco Malfoy was hovering above his face, his lips were at a distance of mere five centimetres from Harry's own and Harry wanted nothing more than to continue where they left off. If he could just lean in a bit, he could capture those lips with his own but before he could proceed to do so, Draco moved away and Harry was rudely and thankfully brought back to reality by a sharp pain coursing through his head from where he had subconsciously lifted it to kiss Draco.

It took him a moment to realise he wasn't dreaming and the previous events came rushing back. He looked around, hoping to find himself at the foot of Draco's bed but he was in his own room, lying in his bed, snuggly wrapped in his duvet.

"Drink up, Potter." said Draco, handing him a vial with a green liquid in it which Harry knew was a pain relieving potion. He quickly swallowed it, thankful for the little ease it brought him.

"I couldn't find anything better than the mild pain relieving potion in your cabinet. You need to stock up on your potions." Draco said, handing Harry a glass of water and helping him sit up. Draco carefully put a pillow behind Harry to make him comfortable with a delicacy Harry didn't know he was capable of.

"I healed the broken jaw and the head injury. You'll probably have a concussion- Don't touch it!"

"Ouch!" Harry had tried to feel the wound covered up with what Harry thought was a plaster but it hurt like hell. "I thought you said you healed it!"

"It's not fully healed, Potter. Even magic is only capable of so much. It's likely gonna be sore for a few more hours. You'll be fine by morning."

Harry nodded and immediately regretted it.

"Gosh! Can't you just stay still?! Stop moving your head!" Draco scolded. He checked the time and said, "I'll have to leave for work now, there's dinner in the kitchen and there are two vials of the pain relieving potion here on the side table in case the pain becomes too much. Don't try to move around much. If there's any problem, call ASAP, I saved my number in your phone. Is there anything else you need?"

"No. Just wondering what's gotten into you..." Harry replied.

"What do you mean?"

Harry snorted. "It's ironic, isn't it? First you break my head and then you heal me like you actually care."

I do care! was what Draco actually wanted to say, but instead he murmured something.

Annoyed, Harry snapped, "That was unintelligible. Care to repeat?"

"I'm sorry! You heard me now?" Draco snapped back.

"Ha! Did I hear correctly? Draco Malfoy just apologized to Harry Potter?! Or did I just hit my head pretty hard?" Harry was far too amused.

Draco rolled his eyes. "I shouldn't have enervated you... speaking of which, I used your wand, hope you don't mind." Draco handed back the holly wand and Harry snatched it from his hand, staring at Draco suspiciously.

"It was to heal you alright! I didn't use it for anything else."

Harry looked abashed. "Thanks." he whispered and Draco nodded his head, moving to the door.

"Draco!" Harry called before he could leave. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have provoked you."

Draco appeared surprised for a second and opened his mouth to say something but seemed to think better of it. He nodded and was about to step out when Harry called him yet again. He sighed and turned back. "Now what, Potter?"

"You're limping..." Harry said simply. "...and your nose is still bleeding...Why didn't you heal yourself?"

Draco didn't really have an answer to that. He had been so worried when Potter passed out that he hadn't realised he himself was hurt. Not knowing what to say he shrugged his shoulders.

"Come here, let me heal you."

"That's fine, Potter. I've had worse."

Harry looked on questioningly. Something wasn't right. Just this morning Hermione told him he had been injured at work for which he was "hospitalized" .Just how dangerous was his job? Harry needed to find out as quickly as possible.

"I'm sure you have, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't mend your "not so bad injuries"."

Draco sauntered back towards Harry and Harry flicked his wand, non-verbally fixing his nose and ankle as easily as possible.

"Show off" mouthed Draco, walking out of the room, smiling to himself.

7 am.

Draco Malfoy was found treading as slowly as possible, searching for a deserted street to board the knight bus. He was two streets away from his flat, if only he wasn't in pain, he could have used the floo from there to reach Potter's house but as it was, he was finding it hard to keep one foot in front of the other, he definitely couldn't climb the five fleet of steps.

Dragging his feet, he put out his hand as soon as he reached the end of the street and the knight bus almost ran him over. The good conductor (who wasn't Stan Shunpike) was considerate enough to help him up those few steps and then get on with his 'welcome address'.

Last night had been hectic. It had started out quite well. Claire was supposedly on leave, though for what, nobody knew. Draco assumed she was probably on a holiday with one of her clients who had taken a fancy to her. This thought lead to Draco rolling his eyes.

Mia had told him there weren't any customers sent by Graham and for the first three hours he had been free... joking around with Mia who had wanted to know how he and Hermione had disappeared without a trace from the room the previous night.

Draco had made up a story about how she had been so freaked out by the blood covering the floor that she didn't register anything else happening around her. Mia glared distrustfully but she didn't push it.

Then there had been customers who had sought him and he had had to go...and all Draco could say about them was that they weren't all that gentle. They had kept him up all night without a break.

He knew he looked like shit and his original plan was to clean up at his flat before he could go back to Potter's house, but it hadn't worked. Even Hermione's wasn't an option because Weasley's gonna be there. He couldn't even wish for Potter to have left to attend to his auror duties because Draco didn't have the house key. Irritated, Draco thought it better to stop thinking and to just face it.

He closed his eyes, trying to bring to mind some happy memory to cheer himself and the first thing that popped up was of course Harry...and that kiss yesterday. He knew Harry had thought he had dreamt it (for which Draco was glad) but Draco still bore a twinge of guilt for doing it.

Draco had just finished patching him up and was thinking of reviving him when he noticed how peaceful Harry looked lying there, with his lips slightly parted, pale pink and a little chapped, he looked adorable and Draco couldn't help himself. That small kiss had been pure bliss and he couldn't take his mind off of it. After that sweet kiss, Draco knew he was too far gone and there was no turning back. His hopes that once he kissed him, this crush will be gone, were crushed (no pun intended). That kiss had him longing for more. That kiss confirmed that he's fallen for Harry. Fallen hard.

Harry groggily opened his eyes, the sunlight too bright for his already hurting head. He was still very sleepy and desperately wanted to go back to bed. He looked around, trying to determine what had woken him up and he realised it was his own head.

He had skipped dinner, too lazy to walk to the kitchen and had instantly fallen asleep forgetting the potion. Actually that wasn't completely true, he hadn't instantly fallen asleep, he had been in a daze, dreaming of Draco again, showering kisses all over his face which had lead to him snoozing on and off before being engulfed by a deep sleep. Maybe he did hurt his head pretty hard.

Sighing, he unhurriedly brought himself to a sitting position, happy that he didn't need the support of pillows, uncorked the vial and swallowed the potion in one go, grimacing at the bitter aftertaste.

He eased himself back into bed when there was a knock at the door. He had all intentions of ignoring it because all his friends and colleagues were cued to the wards and can directly apparate in or floo over, but whoever was outside didn't seem to want to go and leave Harry to his peaceful slumber.

After the fourth knock, Harry got up from bed, cursing under his breath and swiftly strode to the door, swearing to God he'll murder the visitor if he/she was a salesperson or his over enthusiastic neighbour who always ran out of sugar.

Opening the door, he found himself looking at a very shabby Draco Malfoy, shirt half untucked, buttons half way done, trousers perched a little below the hip, messed up hair...whatever Harry was, he sure wasn't stupid. He could recognise the 'just shagged' look anywhere.

Harry didn't want to comment on it though, because the last time that had happened...the consequences hadn't been that great, to put it lightly. He moved to the side to allow him entrance, shutting the door and turning around to find Draco trudging his way to the corridor leading to his room, his footsteps unsteady, and he looked worse for wear.

Draco had left for work last night and from what Harry knew, nightshifts always ran till morning. He checked his watch, it was 7:45...pretty early to get laid, and even if Draco did find someone to get down with, say on his way back or something (which is a little impractical) why does he look like he was at it for hours...?

Harry was reminded of that man at the restaurant, what was his name? Ah! Cole! Draco said he was someone from his workplace, didn't he?... Do colleagues really do something so stupid? Won't they be fired if they are caught? And from what Hermione told him, it seemed like it was normal for Draco to get hurt on the job.

It just wasn't adding up! Should he just ask Draco about the nature of his job? Even before this question popped into mind, Harry knew it was a useless idea. Draco will not tell him for sure. How about Hermione? Harry was sure she knew something about it. Yeah, that's a better idea and that's what he was going to do.

"Scorp, honey, you'll be fine, just hold on okay? Daddy's going to find you a cure very soon. Now I'll have to go, darling. I'll be back later." Draco placed a light kiss on the little blond boy's forehead, an exact replica of Draco, just a smaller version. "Miss you, love you." he whispered to the sleeping boy, unsure of whether he could even hear and process what he's saying.

Every time Draco saw his baby like this, it broke his heart a little more. Draco had spent the entire morning locked up in his room, wallowing in self pity when his stomach had reminded him how hungry it was. He opened the door slowly, peeking his head to thankfully find the hallway empty. He wasn't in the mood to face Potter and answer his questions yet. His silence in the morning was in itself surprising.

Draco had expected Potter to go into the full on enquiry mode but Potter had miraculously remained quiet the whole while. Draco had eaten cornflakes with milk, owing to the fact that Potter's kitchen had nothing else available. Potter seriously needed to stock his pantry along with the potions cabinet, but Draco couldn't really complain, as his kitchen had even fewer ingredients comparatively.

So Draco had eaten whatever was available and left the house to visit Scorp. He had stayed here for three hours and was now walking to the floo.

When Draco stepped out of the fireplace, he found Potter seated on the couch, a glass of butterbeer in hand, two empty bottles lying on the floor. Draco plopped down beside Potter, taking a sip of butterbeer directly from the bottle. The thick liquid moved down his throat, making him feel warm and relaxed. Heaven knows he needed it... a break from what he's going through in life right now.

After a few more sips in silence, Potter spoke,

"What do you do when you're confused?"

"That's an abstract question with an abstract answer."

"Hmmm..." was all Potter said after a long time. He seemed to be in very deep thought.

Four sips later...

"If you could tell me what you're confused about, maybe I could help you..?" Draco offered.

Two sips later...

"You know how I told you I spoke to the Minister yesterday to release you?" Potter asked.

Draco nodded, eventhough he knew Potter wasn't waiting for an answer.

"It wasn't that easy." Potter continued. "I had an argument with Robards before I approached the Minister and shall I say the argument didn't end quite well."

"What exactly did you say?" Draco asked tentatively. Knowing Potter and his ability to blurt out things without thinking through, Draco was sure Potter had said something terrible.

"Er...Um...Well..."

"You can tell me. I won't judge you." Draco encouraged and Potter looked at him distrustfully before continuing,

"I told him something along the lines of how he's still the Head Auror only because I didn't wanna do it and how he should be retired by now..." Potter said in a low voice, guilt evident in it.

"You really did say that?!" Draco asked, shocked by what he was hearing. "I thought you were the golden boy who could do no wrong and even respected the ant crossing the road?" Draco wiggled his eyebrows teasingly.

"Shut up, Malfoy. I just wasn't in my right mind and Kingsley told me that he won't tolerate any disrespect towards his employees and if Robards decides to fire me, he won't do anything about it."

"Hmhmhm...So now what's your problem?" Draco asked.

"What's my problem?!" Potter repeated disbelievingly, "Don't you see?! If I go back, Robards is going to sack me and I don't want to lose my job!"

"So that is why you stayed home yesterday! " Draco exhaled exasperatedly. " You really are an idiot, Potter! He won't sack you! You are one of the best aurors in the department and they can't afford to sack you , especially when there are death eaters running around the city!"

"But what if-"

"Oh stop that nonsense! The Minister knows you regret your behaviour and I'm sure Robards will understand too. Besides, you are really good at apologizing, so that should do the trick. Now get your sorry ass to the Ministry before they really decide to kick you out for neglecting work during a crucial case. I don't want you to lose your job."

"I didn't know you cared about my job." Potter smirked.

"Of course I don't. If you lose your job, I lose my parole officer. Therefore I will be thrown back in jail and you know one of the major traits of Slytherin : Self Preservation." said Draco with a cheeky grin eventhough he knew that wasn't the real reason, because in some weird way, he had actually begun to care for Harry.

Shaking his head at Draco's antics, Harry stood up from the couch and went into his room to shower and change.

As Draco had said, everything had gone well. He was scolded for missing yesterday. Robards was still angry and wasn't properly talking to him but Harry knew that after his sincere apology, Robards had forgiven him and his anger was only to keep up pretences.

Ron wasn't available as he was off to Azkaban to see how the prisoners had broken out. Meanwhile, Harry was asked to get on with his case of "Bradshaw's Mystery" which was the informal name given to it.

Harry had gone back to Ollivander's in search of any clue they've missed and returned to the Ministry two hours later empty handed. He and a couple of junior aurors assigned to him had scoured the whole place but had found nothing of worth there.

Exhausted and annoyed at himself for getting nowhere with this case, he sat down heavily on his chair and pulled out his notepad that he often used to write down his observations of any case. He scribbled down everything he knew and suspected was connected to Bradshaw.

From the murder of Dal Kenzie to the clothing store being robbed, the threatening letters to Ollivander and now the attack at the wand shop by polyjuiced individuals in death eater robes. Harry even noted down how that man- whose name Harry didn't remember- had mentioned Malfoy's name.

He mentally smacked himself for not asking Malfoy about it till now. Something or the other always came up and it slipped his mind. He needed to get it done today. He had just finished writing it down when there was a knock at the door and it swung open without waiting for his reply.

It was one of those trainee aurors named Ryan who always reminded Harry of Colin Creevey. He stood there out of breath, supporting a stitch at his side like he just ran a marathon.

"What is it, Ryan?" Harry asked quickly, sensing that something unfortunate has happened.

"You are immediately summoned at Knockturn Alley, sir." A short pause to catch his breath. "Narcissa Malfoy has been found dead."

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