Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or any of it's characters, so don't sue me!

Pairings: H/D, N/?

Plot: The war is ended, Voldemort defeated, and this is everyone afterwards. Picking up the pieces, and getting used to their new lives, only some are finding it hard to let go of the past…

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Chapter Two

A man with rumpled black hair, staggered into the nightclub, a large box balanced precariously in his arms.

"Guy! Over here, bring it over!"

A man with blond hair and green eyes hurried over, ushering the newcomer over to the stage area of the club.

The club was a rather large, very successful one, with live performances held twice a week on average, and DJ's hired for the remaining days. A large bar ran the length of the room, with two doors behind it. One led to the kitchen, where they served light snacks, and kept extra supplies should the bar run out. The other led to the office, and the employee's changing rooms.

A small lounge area to the right side was used for larger parties of people, and could be reserved in advance. Surrounding the stage was a large dance floor, and several high tables, and stools filled in the area between the lounge and the dance floor. That area was for the clubbers, so they had somewhere to put their drinks, or bar food, when they took a break from dancing.

A small toilet area was near the entrance, with a couple of pay phones set up next to it.

The colour scheme of the club was dark, with dim lighting, with the lounge area slightly lighter than the rest. The club was renowned for its moody, slightly mournful theme, and the music generally reflected that, although it was sometimes altered to reflect what was preferred by the public at the time. The DJ's were known to take requests, but the live performers never deviated from their performance plan.

Guy dropped the box onto the stage floor, which was raised from the rest, and had some steps up the side for the performers. Ignoring the steps, he lightly vaulted up, and crouched next to the box.

Although he didn't own the club, Guy was there the largest amount of time. The owners; Sannah and Ben, appreciated Guy being there so often. Ben, who was currently climbing up the steps, often commented on how Guy improved business, thanks in part to his looks, and in part to his personality.

It was true, although unintentional, but Guy did fit in with the club's theme. Perhaps more than was healthy, as Sannah had a habit of saying.

He didn't dress in black all the time, or harbour any suicidal thoughts, but he did have a habit of sticking with dark colours, and was very secretive when it came to his past.

At the moment, Guy was dressed entirely in black, even though it was broad daylight outside, and a decidedly sunny day for once.

Wearing a skin-tight black vest, and slightly baggy black jeans, he exuded casual scruff, and yet his slim body rippled with muscles whenever he moved. Reaching out, he almost casually ripped the box open, then began passing the musical equipment to Ben who was crouched beside him, watching him wryly.

"I guess you don't need my help then?"

Guy's head jerked up, and his green eyes bored into Ben's for a moment, an expression close to pain flickering across his face.

"Actually, yeah, I'd appreciate it." Smiling slightly at his friend's expression, Guy turned back to the box, pretending not to hear him groan.

They managed to finish adjusting the wiring in time for lunch, with Guy doing the majority of the work, and Ben providing the entertainment, with his inadvertently funny facial expressions and mutterings under his breath.

Lucy came out from the kitchen, bearing a tray filled with plates. Setting up one of the tables in the lounge area, she arranged the food with the ease of long practise.

Flicking her brown hair over her shoulder, her earrings flashed silver as she waved the two men over.

"Where's Patrick, I thought he was helping you clean up today?"

No sooner had Guy voiced the question, then a pair of hands covered his eyes, and a voice whispered in his ear.

"Glad to see you missed me too, love."

Guy sat rigid in his chair, and his friends wondered if he'd turned to stone. Removing his hands from Guy's eyes, Patrick rested them briefly on his shoulders, surprised to feel the muscle had gone rock hard under his touch.

Sitting down himself, Patrick tried to surreptitiously sidle up to the man he fancied, hoping that the tenseness showed his friend was not immune to his charms.

"I've got some work to finish off. I'm going to do that, then I'll see you guys tomorrow night. Sorry about lunch Lucy."

Lucy murmured something that sounded appropriately forgiving, occupying herself with dishing up a generous serving of salad on each plate, except for Guy's.

Guy walked off, heading for the office, where he had promised Sannah he'd fix the computer, and try to modify it a bit.

Patrick looked at him in annoyance. Finally, just when he thought he was finally getting through to the current object of his desire, Guy had successfully escaped, again.

Lucy rapped him across the knuckles with her fork, and Patrick yelped, looking at her woundedly

"Why can't you leave the poor bloke alone? It's obvious to all watching that he doesn't return your affections, and you don't even know if he's gay. So, why do you insist on pursuing him?"

Patrick looked at her incredulously, "I can always tell when someone is gay, and he is as bent as they come! He just hasn't succumbed to my charm yet, but he will, as soon as he gets to know me a bit better."

Ben and Lucy raised their eyebrows doubtfully, and exchanged glances over Patrick's head. Sighing tiredly, Lucy gave up on convincing the determined man, and dished up the rest of the food.

Ben looked from Patrick to the door Guy had disappeared through, and frowned thoughtfully.

A few hours later, Patrick had returned to cleaning duty, where Ben had gleefully assigned him the toilets. Lucy had gone home to rest, before she came back on in the evening.

Guy hadn't emerged from the office yet, so Ben decided to take the chance to talk to him about something. As Ben's wife had a habit of saying; 'wallowing in the past doesn't help anything, only confronting it head on makes any difference'. Since Ben thought Sannah was a very wise woman, he'd decided to take her advise to heart, and make Guy do the same.

The pale blue room was a stark contrast from the darkly furnished club, and Ben could see Guy sat at the computer, his fingers rapidly typing commands.

Coming around the desk, Ben perched on the top, idly flicking through some mail whilst he waited for Guy to finish whatever he was doing. It soon became apparent Guy was no where near finished, and either ignoring or oblivious to the subtle hint that Ben wanted to say something.

"Guy, can you pause that for a minute?"

Guy's green eyes shifted from the screen to Ben's face, for the first time since Ben had entered the room, and he lifted his hands away from the keyboard instantly.

"I think we need to talk about something."

"I know you don't like us prying into your past, and I know you aren't on the run from the police or anything like that, but I also know you are running from something."

"I'm not asking you to tell me what, and I don't really want to know to be completely honest with you. This…thing, is affecting you though, and I think it's about time you faced it. I don't know how you should go about this. I don't know if you need to get smashed, symbolically burn some photos, have a good crying session, or what."

"I do believe that you need to do something though, and I'll support you whatever you end up doing."

Ben waited to see if Guy had anything to say, but Guy's eyes remained downcast, giving Ben no clue as to his reaction. Taking a deep breath, Ben told himself the worst was over, and he might as well finish it.

"You will always have a job here, you know that, but I think you need to figure out what it is you really want. Understand I'm not firing you or anything, and feel free to tell me to fuck off, but if you want it you can take some time off to think, or do whatever it is you need to do."

"As a friendly warning, Patrick is convinced you will fall for him if he keeps trying, and he is very stubborn. Just, let me know if you decide anything."

Lowering his own eyes, Ben ran through everything he'd said and decided he had done all he could. Rising from his perch on the desk, Ben was turning to leave, when Guy grabbed his arm.

Ben hadn't even seen Guy move, and jumped in surprise, making Guy immediately let go.

"I think, it would be a good idea for me to take some time off. How long can I have?"

"Umm…" Ben's head buzzed in startlement, and it was a while before he found he could still think. "How does five weeks sound?"

"That would be great, thanks. I'll be finished here in a minute, and then I'll come to tell you I'm leaving, okay?"

Ben dumbly nodded, and moved out of the office, not even registering that he'd just been practically ordered out of his own office.

Guy had appeared out of the blue one evening, immediately approaching Ben and asking if he had any jobs going. Ben had taken him on as bar help, but Guy had quickly taken on other jobs as well, until he had a hand in practically every aspect of the club.

Ever since he'd arrived, Ben had seen Guy being approached by members of both sexes, and calmly evading all of their attempts. They tried to subtly rub against Guy enticingly, and suddenly he wasn't standing where he was before. It had frustrated Patrick no end, but Ben suddenly realised this afternoon had been the first time he'd seen Guy ever touch someone.

Of course he'd seen him brush against people when they were stood too close, and they'd shook hands when Ben had first hired him, but other than that, Guy seemed to avoid physical contact. It was only now that he thought about it that Ben noticed that fact, and he admired the skill which Guy obviously possessed, to be able to do such unnoticeably.

Running a hand through his golden hair, Ben tidied up the tables and chairs, before checking on the club's supplies.

Just as he was finishing his list of what they'd need to stock up on after tonight, Guy knocked on the kitchen door, to let him know he was there.

Lifting his head from the bottle he was studying, Ben smiled at Guy, who was leaning half of his body in the doorway, looking curiously reminiscent of a boy who knows he's about to get yelled at.

"So…five weeks from now, right?"

"Yeah…here, this is a number you can reach me on." Ben accepted the piece of paper offered him, only briefly looking at the numbers on it before he tucked it in his shirt pocket.

"If you don't get an answer just leave a message on the answering machine, I'll ring you back. If you need any help, or…anything, call me?"

Recognising the delaying tactic for what it was, Ben subtly ushered Guy through the club, to the exit, assuring Guy he would ring if he needed anything.

Finally getting Guy out the door, Ben managed to refrain from locking the door, settling for shutting it firmly instead. Releasing his breath in a sigh, Ben leaned against the shut door for a moment, before heading back to work, shaking his head at the thought of grown men who inexplicably turned into big babies when they didn't want to do something. Maybe Sannah was right when she said men were wimps, she was turning out to be right a lot lately.

Outside the nightclub, Guy leaned against the shut door, and tilted his head to the sky. Ignoring the odd looks directed at him from the people walking past, Guy closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.

Allowing the sun to warm his face, Guy ran fingers through his thick black hair, then stretched languidly.

It was Guy who had worked in the club for the past three years. It was Guy who had been hit on, by men and women alike. It was Guy who had turned them down, skilfully manoeuvring around their not-so-subtle hints. It was Guy who leaned against smooth wood and closed his eyes to the sun, but it was Harry who opened them again.

Allowing himself to feel the world for the first time in three long years, Harry turned timid eyes to the street, examining the details he had been ignoring for so long.

Overcoming his fear, Harry repeatedly told himself there was nothing he should fear anymore, refusing to let himself dwell on why that was. Dropping the small glamour which had hidden his scar, Harry wandered down the street in plain sight. He walked like Guy, was, to all intents and purposes the same as before, but he was no longer hiding.

Moving in a definite direction now, Harry gathered his famous resolve around himself. He was back, and he had some people to see, and things which desperately needed doing. He had left things for much too long, and things which should have been done years ago would have to be done now instead.

Despite leaving Ben with a contact number, and meaning it when he offered his services should Ben need them, Harry knew he wouldn't be content working in a nightclub for the rest of his life, and he had a sneaking suspicion his friend knew that.

Ben claimed Sannah was the brains of the couple, but Harry had a feeling Ben would never resort to phoning Harry's number. Still, he'd definitely have to visit them sometime at the very least.

Reaching the end of the street, Harry looked around once, then vanished soundlessly, disappearing the same way he had appeared all those years ago. Out of the blue.

Well? I don't think Harry should be dragged back in this fic - but you are welcome to dislike my method of returning him, if you wish.

R&R, please? I've got to go and write another chapter for my other current fic - 'Taming the dragon' (is that the right name? I can't remember - cringe)