Draco washed the last dinner dish and handed it to Theo to dry. It was a rare night that they were both home, but with Theo on the outs with both of his Italian girlfriends and seemingly trying to otherwise keep his dick in his pants, he was in more often. And of course Draco was always in, which was how he liked it.

Theo hung up the cloth and wandered to the corner of the sitting room where an old guitar leaned against the wall. It was another item they had found in a random closet in the flat and Theo had taken it to get restrung. He lifted it and started strumming.

"Do you have any idea how to play that thing?" Draco went to the window and looked out. It was another beautiful, warm night.

"I'm picking it up," Theo said as his strumming coalesced into something like a melody. "It's not bloody easy, though."

Draco turned and watched Theo's fingers, trying to translate the chords he was playing to what they would be on a keyboard. He still needed to find a way to listen to music other than the old radio in the bookshop, which only seemed to pick up news programmes and a tinny classical station. He'd have to ask Hermione about it again. Hermione, hmmm. His eyes narrowed and he wondered if Theo's sudden interest in the guitar had something to do with her. Draco had mentioned some of their conversation about music and he wouldn't put it past Theo, the smarmy git, to serenade her or write a song about her or something equally twatty.

"Want a drink?" Draco moved toward the drinks cart.

"Yeah, just a whisky, thanks." Theo said and then started to hum a tune over his strumming.

Draco poured two and was handing one to Theo just as a distinctive five-beat knock sounded on the door. He froze and his eyes widened on Theo's. It couldn't be.

In a flash he was moving to the door and throwing it open, Theo right behind him.

"What in the bloody hell!?" he exclaimed as he beheld a tall, haughty-faced boy standing on the threshold.

"Fuck, you really are here." Blaise Zabini stepped through the door and wrapped Draco in a tight embrace. "I thought you were fucking dead."

Draco was as surprised at the hug as he was to see Blaise at all. "That's what they're telling people?" he asked, as Blaise finally let him go and Draco grabbed him by the shoulders to hold him at arms' length, so fucking happy to see his best friend.

Blaise shook his head and gave him a rare smile, then reached around him to shake Theo's hand, "Theo."

Theo took Blaise's hand and grabbed his upper arm. "Good to see you, mate."

"To answer your question, they're not telling anybody anything." Blaise said, his eyes back on Draco, "But the over/under definitely favours your demise."

"That could actually be useful," Draco mused. Blaise chuckled.

"Come in," Theo said, starting off down the hall. "Have a drink and tell us what the fuck you're doing here."

"Sounds good, yeah." Blaise followed him, whistling as he took in the flat's interior. "This place is insane. They set you up pretty well, huh?"

Theo nodded. "Could definitely be worse. Whisky OK?" He held up the bottle of single malt he and Draco had been sipping.

"Yeah," Blaise nodded swiftly and sat down on the couch.

Draco fell into one of the armchairs across from him. "You slick git, why didn't you tell us you were coming?"

"What? Was I supposed to owl you?"

Draco pointed to the phone. "Or use that."

Blaise cut his eyes to Theo. "My man turning into a muggle already?"

"Nearly there," Theo said cheerfully as he handed Blaise a glass. "You should see his motorcycle."

Blaise's head whipped toward Draco again and he let out a low laugh. "That I definitely have to see,"

Draco waved his drink. "All in good time. So what the fuck? You know that we're here. What else do you know? Did someone send you? Are you moving in?"

Blaise held up his hand, a slow grin stealing across his face. "Blimey, that's lot of eagerness for a Malfoy. Let's see. I know the two of you are here because you're in hiding, so to speak. I know there are more of you. And yes, someone sent me; Remus Lupin. I'm supposed to tell you that the password is 'Phoenix Tear'." Blaise rolled his eyes.

Draco gave a short laugh. "Like we needed that."

"So is there news, then?" Theo asked, settling down on the other end of the couch. "From Lupin?"

"Nahh, not really. He doesn't have anything new, which is why he didn't come himself. Said to tell you to hold tight, lay low and all that. Looks like school will start as usual in September, but that could change. Especially if Dumbledore gets worse." Draco nodded, remembering the headmaster's weakened state that night in the Astronomy Tower. "There's a sense that the other side is planning something." Blaise sipped his drink. "Which my sources back up."

"Your sources?" Draco frowned.

"Yeah, I've been doing some listening, a little reporting."

"You're working for the Order?" Draco's surprise was extreme.

"That sounds a bit official. Let's just say I'm passing along things of interest if and when I can."

"What brought that on?" Draco was incredulous; Blaise was the last person who would stick his neck out for a cause.

"I'm just trying to stay safe. Protect myself and my mum. I don't want to end up dead or in Azkaban." Blaise's dark gaze shot to him and Draco nodded. "As you know," Blaise continued, "mum attracts all kinds. She throws a party, you never know who will show up or what they'll say after a couple of euphoric draughts." Draco nodded again, Blaise's notoriously beautiful mother Diantha, a former model and sometime singer, moved in very rarefied circles.

"Are you staying with her now?" Theo asked.

"Nah, she's in Paris practicing for some gig at the end of the summer. I'm in one of the villas. It's close to here."

"One of the villas?" Theo's eyebrows went up.

"Mum's got three or four," Blaise said shortly. "Tends to inherit them."

Theo let out a low whistle, then popped up and grabbed his pack of cigarettes off the table.

"So you're not moving in, then?" Draco asked, taking a cigarette as Theo offered the pack around.

Blaise took one too and paused as Theo held out his lighter, his brows going up at the muggle device before he leaned forward and took the light. "No," he said on the exhale. "I'm not under any sort of embargo like you lot, but I think I'll make the villa home base for the time being, so you'll see more of me."

"Good man," Draco said.

"Yeah, that's ace," Theo echoed. "It's a great time around here. I think you'll enjoy what's on offer." He raised his brows twice then glanced at the clock over the fireplace. "Shit. Speaking of, I'm supposed to meet Giulia in five minutes. Better dash."

Draco's eyes whipped to him. "You're on that again?"

Theo had the grace to look a little chagrined. "I saw her at the disco last night and she was very persuasive."

Draco frowned and noticed Blaise's gaze whipping between them. "Trouble, boys?" he asked with a smirk.

"No trouble at all," Draco said evenly, but Theo wouldn't meet his eyes as he hurried to the door.

"Glad you're here, mate!" Theo waved to Blaise. "Maybe you'll help this one loosen up!"

He jerked his thumb at Draco, who sent him a rude gesture as the door closed. Blaise got up. "I actually need to dash too." He said. "Mum wants a floo call. Could be something interesting to pass on. Can I apparate from here?"

"Yeah, there are no restrictions. We're just supposed to be cautious." Draco stretched up out of his seat.

"What's your schedule like?" Blaise asked. "Will you come by the villa tomorrow?"

"Sure. It's my day off."

Blaise snorted. "You. Working." He shook his head. "Lupin said it was a shop too."

"Eh." Draco lifted a shoulder, "I actually like it."

Blaise grinned. "Tomorrow then. Come for lunch, stay for dinner?"

Draco smiled back at him. "Yeah, sounds good. Write down the address and I'll take my bike so you can laugh at me some more."

"I look forward to it."

"Hermione fucking Granger." Blaise tipped his head back and blew out a long breath that turned into a chuckle.

"And Lavender Brown, don't forget," Draco added, shifting in his deck chair and squinting against the bright sun. He reached for his sunglasses and slid them on.

"Brown, now that is a bit intriguing," Blaise murmured.

"Is it?" Draco glanced over.

Blaise's eyes were closed, but he smiled slightly. "She was looking fit at the end of term."

"Huh." Draco let his head drop against the canvas chair back. "Well, you'll probably be pleased with how she looks now, then."

"Oh? What does that mean?"

"Just, Italy. Everyone's tan and relaxed."

"Even Granger?" Blaise snorted.

Draco was silent. With Blaise, he didn't feel as on guard as he did with Theo, but he was still reluctant to discuss whatever the fuck was going on with Hermione. "She looks... well, too," was what he finally settled on.

Blaise immediately sat up in his chair and took off his sunglasses. "What?"

Fuck, so much for not discussing it. Draco sighed.

"Ok, what the fuck is going on?" Blaise's voice held a lot of incredulity and a hint of humour.

"Nothing is going on."

"You just complimented Granger's looks," Blaise said, his eyes wide. "Now, I'll agree that she's pretty, and I know we've all been steadily moving away from the muggle-hating shite of our younger years, but you can't stand her. I know you can't."

"Maybe I just didn't know her." It popped out before Draco could think and he knew instantly that he was caught.

"Oh. Fuck." Blaise said, a huge grin taking over his face. "You. And Granger. Oh my fucking gods."

"There is no 'Granger and me'," Draco said irritably, shifting up off his chair and taking off his t-shirt. He walked to the steps of the pool and skimmed his foot over the pristine water. "If anything there's more likelihood of Granger and Theo. He's trying all his shit on her."

"I'm not leaving behind the topic of you and Granger by any means," Blaise said, "but Theo too? What the fuck is going on around here? Has Granger suddenly become a sex goddess? Is there something in the water?" He raised his palms and looked around theatrically. "And, also wasn't Theo off to shag some Italian bird last night?"

"Yeah, same old Theo." Draco shrugged. "I thought he was turning over a new leaf for Granger, but apparently not." A dart of anger shot through him and he shook his head once.

Blaise whistled. "You're not happy about that!"

"Fuck off, Blaise."

"Ok, ok." Blaise put his hands up again.

"And besides," Draco said. "I don't think Granger's biting. With Theo. So no harm, no foul."

"You think or you hope?" Blaise said with a wicked grin.

Draco gave him the finger and dove suddenly under the water. He swam almost the whole length of the pool before he came up, shaking his head and gasping for breath. He moved with leisurely strokes to the far wall, where lush green landscaping dipped almost down to the pool edge, then flipped to float on his back. He lay there for a while, letting the water cushion him, staring up at the greenery and the blue sky where it met the salmon pink wall of the villa in an almost surreal saturation of color.

"You want a Peroni!? I'm going in!" Blaise called.

Draco flipped over and called an affirmative, then swam back to where they were sitting. He pulled himself out of the water and let it stream onto the pool deck. It was so hot, he barely needed to towel himself off and instead just flopped back on the lounge chair and closed his eyes again.

Granger, fuck. What was going on with her? Did he really want to think about it? No. But the truth was, with Blaise here, he wasn't going to be able to conceal anything effectively. Blaise knew him too well. He blew out a breath and raked his hand through his wet hair, resting his wrist on his forehead for a moment and letting the warmth from the sun seep into his bones. Maybe he'd just let it lie. Maybe she'd pick Theo anyway. 'Pick?' Fuck. He was already thinking of it that way. He breathed in and out slowly, trying to clear his mind, letting the heat drowse him.

As soon as he relaxed, an image of Hermione in her white bikini bloomed behind his eyes. He breathed out a soft sigh and imagined her here, coming up out of the water, her hair slick and dark, her eyes hooded. She walked over to him, leaned down, kissed him. Her lips were soft, and droplets from her hair fell onto his chest. He tipped his head back and slid his hands around her waist. She wrapped her fingers around his jaw and behind his ear, her tongue licking against the seam of his mouth. He opened and invited her in, twining his tongue with hers, feeling heat start low and potent. She made a soft sound, not unlike the one the day of the orange juice, and it was like oxygen to a flame. He pulled her down and she went easily, straddling him, her luscious tits at eye level and her hot core positioned perfectly over his—

"Here's your beer." Blaise's voice startled Draco out of his fantasy.

"Uh, thanks." Draco shifted up, flustered, hoping the fact that he was half hard wasn't noticeable. Blaise flopped back down and took a deep drink of his beer. Draco did the same, letting the icy coldness shock away the torpor of his daydream, although a few images lingered.

"So when am I going to see them?" Blaise asked.

Granger's tits, what? "What?" Draco was confused.

"Our two Gryffindor friends. You said you've been hanging out a bit. Am I going to get to see them? Have to admit I'm insanely curious now."

"I don't know." Draco collected himself. "Is it safe? With what you're doing and everything?"

"I don't see why not. Don't you trust them?"

Draco leaned back and looked up. "Yeah, I mean, they have no reason to sell you out. And you're helping the Order, which still surprises me by the way." He shot a look at Blaise. "What brought that on? Why not just … stay out of it?"

"Didn't like what they did to you, did I?" Blaise shook his head and a very cold look came over his face. "And although I know mum and I would survive under that regime, I think it could be unpleasant for her, having to dance to his tune. And Dolohov has always had an obsession with her." Blaise shuddered and a hint of fear touched his features.

Draco felt an unpleasant prickling up his neck too. He'd seen Dolohov in action during the last year.

"Yeah," he finally said, hanging his head. "You're not wrong." He heaved out a big breath. "And I think it would be fine for you to meet them. Hermione—and Brown."

"Hermione, huh?" Blaise's eyebrow went up, the gravity of a few moments before gone from his face. Draco rolled his eyes and Blaise lay back on his chair again with a chuckle. "Bit cheeky of the Order to have those two shack up together. Lot of bad blood there if I recall."

"Yeah, I about lost it when Granger told me. But they seem to be getting along OK."

"Huh. Maybe there is something in the air here. Muggle magic."

"Maybe." Draco took another swallow of beer. "I'll see when Theo has his next night off and we can have something at our flat. Invite everyone round."

"Good, good. There's a telephone somewhere in this villa. I'll figure out how to use it."

"I'll show you." Draco looked over and flicked his eyebrows up.

Blaise shook his head with a smile. "Not going to get used to that anytime soon, mate."

Draco chuckled. "Adapt or perish."

Blaise sat up. "Speaking of, when are you going to show me this bike?"

"Right now sounds good," Draco said. "I'm not letting you fucking ride it, though."

"Why!?"

"I've seen you on a broom. You'd crash within thirty seconds. Probably sooner. Reckless." Draco shook his head and stood up. "You can ride on the back and hug me."

"Fuck. You." Blaise put two fingers up. "You can save that shite for your girl."

He smirked and Draco put two fingers up in return.