Harry
Merlin, Harry thought, as he followed his partner through the Floo and back to the Ministry. His partner really was a pain in the arse. Dropping a bomb like that and then making an exit without waiting for a response. Ever the drama queen. He didn't even give Harry a second to process what that meant, or to tell him that clearly the attraction Harry had been denying was for Malfoy, so that plus being around Malfoy made the potion extra strong.
The green flames of the Floo flickered as he stepped through into the lobby of the Ministry expecting to see Malfoy waiting for him, but his partner was nowhere to be seen. Curious. Well, not so curious. Malfoy had just confessed that he was attracted to Harry and he hadn't seemed too happy about admitting it. Could he have travelled home without Harry realising?
"Auror Potter!" Robards was walking towards him with a tight-lipped frown on his face.
"Sir." Harry nodded. "I was just on my way up to meet you."
"Care to tell me why your partner popped out of the Floo and verbally requested a partner change before heading home without being debriefed?"
Harry felt a rush of heat hit his face. Malfoy had asked to be reassigned because he thought Harry didn't reciprocate his feelings.
"Why can't you seem to keep a partner?" Robards asked, his voice lower and softer. It didn't sound like a reprimand, more like sympathy. "I thought you and Malfoy worked well together. Complemented one another."
Harry pulled in a deep breath, thinking about it. "We do."
Clearly Robards hadn't been expecting an agreement. His mouth hung open and his brow arched up towards his hairline. "Then what happened?"
"Don't put in the transfer yet," Harry said. "Let me talk to him." He turned around and pulled a handful of Floo powder out of the sachet next to the fireplace. He tossed it in and the flames roared to life.
"But Potter..." Robards started to say, but Harry interrupted him.
"We'll be back." Harry smiled and then said, "Malfoy Manor."
