"So Harry thinks that I'm just like you, huh? Am I really that vain?"
Rowan asked fiercely, but her mean intentions were marred by the smile that
curled at the corners of her mouth.
"You should stop listening in on people's conversations." Draco replied. There was one thing Rowan couldn't do that he could and that was hold a poker face. Draco never allowed his feelings to betray him, and Rowan almost always did.
"I came to apologize."
"What I said was none of your business...you came to what?" Draco said, taken a back. Was she apologizing...?
"I was going to apologize."
"Are you?"
"Would you stop talking and let me?" She countered, "I'm sorry for saying what I just did. I'm really not used to working with people, let alone some one like you."
"Someone like me?"
"Yeah, someone like me." Rowan replied quietly. "We are quite the same and I think that it's part of the reason we never got along at Hogwarts. We were always trying to out do one another and you can't beat yourself. But you also shouldn't hate yourself, which is something I've come to realize and so, unlike at Hogwarts, I am going to try and stop being unreasonable and I am hoping, that you will do the same."
Draco let his jaw drop in astonishment, not believing what she was saying. Thank god for Harry, because if she hadn't just over heard what he'd said this conversation probably would have never taken place, or would have taken place at Draco's funeral.
"Mmm. Wanna close your mouth and answer me?" Rowan replied jokingly, tapping her foot on the floor impatiently. She'd heard what Harry had been trying to explain to Draco and realized just why she'd never liked him. Now, she'd laid her feelings out on the table and Draco was completely shocked, which, she remembered, took a lot.
"I accept." Draco replied quickly, saying the first answer that he could wrap his brain around.
There was silence as the two stood poised in the doorway to the communication room, caught up in each other's eyes. It was a beautiful moment and too quickly interrupted.
"Um, yeah, so how about we head back to my office."
"Lead on."
They walked up and down several corridors in complete silence as the journeyed toward Rowan's office. They entered silently, nodding to Ashley as they passed. They took up seats, Rowan behind her desk and Draco as the conference chairs before her desk, in perfect silence. In the still quiet that filled the room, they both realized that it would be a great task to be civil to one another after so many years of hostility. It would be a great adventure for both, resulting in what they both hoped would be, an everlasting peace and understanding.
***
"So, have you spoke with Rowan recently?" Zale asked over dinner. It was her second night with Harry Potter and it seemed like her life couldn't be more perfect. He was the perfect host, the perfect boss, the perfect friend. Yet, there was no romantic involvement. They acted like they'd known each other for years, for more than years, forever, even.
"Actually no, I haven't. I have spoken with Draco actually and it sounds like the case is under control." Harry smiled up at the red haired beauty that sat opposite of him.
"Yeah, but what about Rowan? This is kind of an unfortunate accident, isn't it? The whole putting Draco and Rowan together thing."
"I'm glad actually. Kind of ingenious on my part. See, they've had so many opportunities for like, the greatest romance and neither have them have seen past their hatred of one another to what lies in store. Their lives have been like a Shakespearian play."
"You really think that they'll just get over themselves and fall head over heels in love?" Zale looked skeptical. "Rowan's got a really thick skin."
"Draco is just the same. If you put him under a glamour, he'd be a perfect stand-in for Rowan. They are so identical it's disgusting. That's why I couldn't date Rowan. It was kind of like dating Draco and I just couldn't handle them both at once. Well, for the most part things just wouldn't work out because the whole time she was with me she was thinking of Draco, I'm quite sure of it now."
"That's unfortunate. If I were with you, I couldn't possibly think of anyone else..." Zale gasped and put a hand over her mouth. "I cannot believe I just said that out loud."
Harry was blushing. Women had swooned over him more often times than he can count and for longer than he could remember. This however, was the first time he felt light headed for one of his admirers. Harry eyed Zale, who sat staring at her plate, her hand still covering her mouth. Her face was flushed a bright red which did not do justice to her red hair at all.
Gathering up all the courage he could muster, he stood up, walked around to her side of the table and knelt down next to her. She didn't look up but could feel his presence and his hot breath blowing on her cheek. He took her hand away from her mouth and kissed it gently. Astounded, she looked up from her half eaten meal and into the most gorgeous pair of eyes. His breath was coming slightly quicker than it had at first and gave the impression that he was some what nervous. Zale would fix that. She leaned in and did not have to move far before her lips were met by Harry's soft lips. They kissed gently and then more ferverently when they'd mustered up their courage. Zale slipped her arms around Harry's neck and tousled his hair. Harry and Zale remained glued to one another for several minutes before reality came sliding back in.
They slowly pulled away from one another and Harry stood up, towering above Zale. He kissed her hair and rounded the table to return to his seat.
"Something tells me that this partnership is no longer strictly business related." Zale smiled coyly.
"I was wondering how long I could last before I had to do that. Kiss you I mean. Yeah, we'll just have to avoid any romantic encounters in the office...well, maybe not in my office...cause it is mine." Harry winked. "Only kidding."
"Well, if you want to," Zale laughed. How long had she been waiting for Mr. Right? And here he was...Harry fucking Potter. Life was good. Hell, who was she kidding? Life was fucking great!
"Leave your dishes if you want, I'll clean them up later, but I need to get some sleep."
"I'll do the dishes. You do your fair share of house work, I was actually quite surprised."
Harry blushed, "okay, suit yourself. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Sweet dreams."
He leaned across the table and lightly brushed his lips against Zale's before standing up and going to his room. She leaned back in her chair and swooned, this certainly was shaping up to be an interesting mission.
***
"Come on Malfoy, let's get out of here." Rowan mumbled. She closed the artifact file that once again had claimed the 'important' spot on her desk.
Draco glanced down at his watch to check the time. It was about eight at night. Had they really been working that long? They had. And they'd gotten basically no where.
"What's the day today?" Draco asked casually. It was awful. He couldn't keep track of time any more. All that he remember was that tonight would be the third night that he would sleep in Rowan's flat.
"It's Friday," Rowan laughed, "time flies when you are having fun."
"Ah yes, on the backs of snitches." Draco replied. "So anything exciting planned for tonight?" He asked curiously, striving to make polite conversation on the way to the parking garage. Since they had come to their understanding in the Communication room they hadn't really talked much. Not any really meaningful conversations at least.
"Um, what is your definition of exciting?" Rowan looked curious.
Draco was startled, he could tell by Rowan's voice that she had plans for tonight, probably ones that had been formed before he arrived. He didn't want to intrude and tried to keep his interest in her plans to a minimum.
"I don't know. Something that involves leaving your flat?" Draco mumbled.
"Actually then, yes. I do have plans. Some girls from the IWO and I are going out clubbing tonight...it's our weekly ritual."
"You go clubbing?" Draco asked, for some reason he was shocked. She seemed like the stay at home on the weekends type of gal that he usually avoided back in his early days when he'd dated frequently.
"Yes, I go clubbing. Have you got a problem with it?" Rowan replied, she tried to study the expression on his face and was very unsuccessful as usual. She had no idea if he was awed or shocked.
"You should stop listening in on people's conversations." Draco replied. There was one thing Rowan couldn't do that he could and that was hold a poker face. Draco never allowed his feelings to betray him, and Rowan almost always did.
"I came to apologize."
"What I said was none of your business...you came to what?" Draco said, taken a back. Was she apologizing...?
"I was going to apologize."
"Are you?"
"Would you stop talking and let me?" She countered, "I'm sorry for saying what I just did. I'm really not used to working with people, let alone some one like you."
"Someone like me?"
"Yeah, someone like me." Rowan replied quietly. "We are quite the same and I think that it's part of the reason we never got along at Hogwarts. We were always trying to out do one another and you can't beat yourself. But you also shouldn't hate yourself, which is something I've come to realize and so, unlike at Hogwarts, I am going to try and stop being unreasonable and I am hoping, that you will do the same."
Draco let his jaw drop in astonishment, not believing what she was saying. Thank god for Harry, because if she hadn't just over heard what he'd said this conversation probably would have never taken place, or would have taken place at Draco's funeral.
"Mmm. Wanna close your mouth and answer me?" Rowan replied jokingly, tapping her foot on the floor impatiently. She'd heard what Harry had been trying to explain to Draco and realized just why she'd never liked him. Now, she'd laid her feelings out on the table and Draco was completely shocked, which, she remembered, took a lot.
"I accept." Draco replied quickly, saying the first answer that he could wrap his brain around.
There was silence as the two stood poised in the doorway to the communication room, caught up in each other's eyes. It was a beautiful moment and too quickly interrupted.
"Um, yeah, so how about we head back to my office."
"Lead on."
They walked up and down several corridors in complete silence as the journeyed toward Rowan's office. They entered silently, nodding to Ashley as they passed. They took up seats, Rowan behind her desk and Draco as the conference chairs before her desk, in perfect silence. In the still quiet that filled the room, they both realized that it would be a great task to be civil to one another after so many years of hostility. It would be a great adventure for both, resulting in what they both hoped would be, an everlasting peace and understanding.
***
"So, have you spoke with Rowan recently?" Zale asked over dinner. It was her second night with Harry Potter and it seemed like her life couldn't be more perfect. He was the perfect host, the perfect boss, the perfect friend. Yet, there was no romantic involvement. They acted like they'd known each other for years, for more than years, forever, even.
"Actually no, I haven't. I have spoken with Draco actually and it sounds like the case is under control." Harry smiled up at the red haired beauty that sat opposite of him.
"Yeah, but what about Rowan? This is kind of an unfortunate accident, isn't it? The whole putting Draco and Rowan together thing."
"I'm glad actually. Kind of ingenious on my part. See, they've had so many opportunities for like, the greatest romance and neither have them have seen past their hatred of one another to what lies in store. Their lives have been like a Shakespearian play."
"You really think that they'll just get over themselves and fall head over heels in love?" Zale looked skeptical. "Rowan's got a really thick skin."
"Draco is just the same. If you put him under a glamour, he'd be a perfect stand-in for Rowan. They are so identical it's disgusting. That's why I couldn't date Rowan. It was kind of like dating Draco and I just couldn't handle them both at once. Well, for the most part things just wouldn't work out because the whole time she was with me she was thinking of Draco, I'm quite sure of it now."
"That's unfortunate. If I were with you, I couldn't possibly think of anyone else..." Zale gasped and put a hand over her mouth. "I cannot believe I just said that out loud."
Harry was blushing. Women had swooned over him more often times than he can count and for longer than he could remember. This however, was the first time he felt light headed for one of his admirers. Harry eyed Zale, who sat staring at her plate, her hand still covering her mouth. Her face was flushed a bright red which did not do justice to her red hair at all.
Gathering up all the courage he could muster, he stood up, walked around to her side of the table and knelt down next to her. She didn't look up but could feel his presence and his hot breath blowing on her cheek. He took her hand away from her mouth and kissed it gently. Astounded, she looked up from her half eaten meal and into the most gorgeous pair of eyes. His breath was coming slightly quicker than it had at first and gave the impression that he was some what nervous. Zale would fix that. She leaned in and did not have to move far before her lips were met by Harry's soft lips. They kissed gently and then more ferverently when they'd mustered up their courage. Zale slipped her arms around Harry's neck and tousled his hair. Harry and Zale remained glued to one another for several minutes before reality came sliding back in.
They slowly pulled away from one another and Harry stood up, towering above Zale. He kissed her hair and rounded the table to return to his seat.
"Something tells me that this partnership is no longer strictly business related." Zale smiled coyly.
"I was wondering how long I could last before I had to do that. Kiss you I mean. Yeah, we'll just have to avoid any romantic encounters in the office...well, maybe not in my office...cause it is mine." Harry winked. "Only kidding."
"Well, if you want to," Zale laughed. How long had she been waiting for Mr. Right? And here he was...Harry fucking Potter. Life was good. Hell, who was she kidding? Life was fucking great!
"Leave your dishes if you want, I'll clean them up later, but I need to get some sleep."
"I'll do the dishes. You do your fair share of house work, I was actually quite surprised."
Harry blushed, "okay, suit yourself. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Sweet dreams."
He leaned across the table and lightly brushed his lips against Zale's before standing up and going to his room. She leaned back in her chair and swooned, this certainly was shaping up to be an interesting mission.
***
"Come on Malfoy, let's get out of here." Rowan mumbled. She closed the artifact file that once again had claimed the 'important' spot on her desk.
Draco glanced down at his watch to check the time. It was about eight at night. Had they really been working that long? They had. And they'd gotten basically no where.
"What's the day today?" Draco asked casually. It was awful. He couldn't keep track of time any more. All that he remember was that tonight would be the third night that he would sleep in Rowan's flat.
"It's Friday," Rowan laughed, "time flies when you are having fun."
"Ah yes, on the backs of snitches." Draco replied. "So anything exciting planned for tonight?" He asked curiously, striving to make polite conversation on the way to the parking garage. Since they had come to their understanding in the Communication room they hadn't really talked much. Not any really meaningful conversations at least.
"Um, what is your definition of exciting?" Rowan looked curious.
Draco was startled, he could tell by Rowan's voice that she had plans for tonight, probably ones that had been formed before he arrived. He didn't want to intrude and tried to keep his interest in her plans to a minimum.
"I don't know. Something that involves leaving your flat?" Draco mumbled.
"Actually then, yes. I do have plans. Some girls from the IWO and I are going out clubbing tonight...it's our weekly ritual."
"You go clubbing?" Draco asked, for some reason he was shocked. She seemed like the stay at home on the weekends type of gal that he usually avoided back in his early days when he'd dated frequently.
"Yes, I go clubbing. Have you got a problem with it?" Rowan replied, she tried to study the expression on his face and was very unsuccessful as usual. She had no idea if he was awed or shocked.
