Harry knocked loudly on the dark, wooden door, rubbing his forehead furiously, thankful for the lack of bumpy scarred skin. His famous lightening bolt had vanished along with Voldemort's smile as he was wiped off the face of the Earth that fateful day. Harry tried not to think about it. Far too many people had died. And he was the supposed saviour.

He had a killer hangover, and though there was a handy little spell that helped with the worst of it, he still had a grinding headache, and the sun was still a little too light; the world still spinning slightly.

Walking along the street last night, he'd only thought he was going along to see if anything caught his fancy. He was faced with a Death Eater spy (or so he claimed), whom he hated and hadn't seen for years. They'd had a rather begrudging conversation; it was still very apparent they were from very different backgrounds when it came to their views on the world. However, it was a long time since Harry had had an intelligent debate; in fact, he couldn't remember ever having had one in his life. Gryffindors were far too inclined to either agree with him wholeheartedly, or stop talking to him at all. As the night and drink and conversation flowed on, Harry found himself not having such a bad time. He wasn't sure if it was because of the alcohol addling his brain, the alcohol tampering with Malfoy's personality, the warm, cozy atmosphere of the bar, the soft music thudding through his veins...or a weird mixture of them all. And then at the most inopportune time, Malfoy had looked down at a common item used among people he had swore to rid the world of (a watch), and left. Just gone.

'Well, I would say nice seeing you,' he'd said, 'But I wouldn't go that far. How about I just say "smell ya later", will that do?'

Harry had laughed. 'Smell ya later, Malfoy.'

And Malfoy had strode out the door, leaving a very drunk, dazed and very bemused Harry Potter alone at the bar, wondering whether "smell ya later" had any indications towards seeing Malfoy again. Then he began to wonder what he'd think if it did.

Harry had woken up this morning, thoroughly dazed, hung over and single minded, thinking only about getting himself an apartment. He didn't think he could stand another night of the peachy-creaminess. Once he'd cast the anti-hangover spell on himself (he really should stock some supplies for the potion, it was much more effective) he'd staggered down to the breakfast room, and expertly pinched the newspaper sitting on one of the tables. He'd returned back to his room and settled down to find himself an apartment.

Here he was now, knocking loudly on the wooden door of a nice place just outside of London, still feeling like he was somewhere above himself, watching down below with a slightly amused and pitying expression on his face.

Harry heard footsteps pad slowly to the door. He braced himself. The ad had said 'young male', but anyone could say anything when it was written down.

The door swung open, and Harry let himself be utterly shocked for the second time in as many days.

The young blond man that was standing in front of him looked like he'd just staggered out of bed. His hair was ruffled and falling down his face in a messily elegant way (if that was possible), that reminded Harry oddly of Sirius. His face, wearing an expression that told Harry he had no idea what was going on, was free of an glamours or makeup, but as far as Harry was concerned, gazing at Draco Malfoy's face, he didn't need it. He was blessed with soft, feminine features, which still had enough man in them to be considered strikingly handsome. Harry let his eyes wander down, and he was completely shocked to find his eyes meet with bare skin. Harry ran his eyes along Malfoy's torso, which was firm and pearly white. Malfoy's shoulders had broadened, but he was still a slim young man. Harry let his eyes slide further down, and he found himself blushing like an idiotic teenager as he realized Malfoy was only wearing a pair of green silk boxers. He managed to force his eyes up again, whereupon they were met with sleepy grey ones.

'Coffee?' mumbled Malfoy, attempting an engaging smile, stepping out of the way of the door and extending a graceful hand into the apartment, inviting Harry in.

o

o

o

Draco was trying to force his mind to whir and fizz like it did when he was properly awake, forcing it to try and come up with a connection a name of the person in front of him, but mornings were not his best time, and he was still having trouble pulling himself out of the wonderful dream he had just been in...

He suddenly realised he was just standing in the doorway, and he tried to slip his ever famous charming smile onto his face, stretching out his arm invitingly. 'Coffee?' he asked, assuming he knew whoever this was, as his door was charmed to only sound if it was a wizard or someone he knew very well knocked on it. Of course, often wizards preferred to tumble out of fireplaces most inelegantly, spewing soot and dust everywhere. And his friends knew very well not to disturb him in the morning, as it was likely everything they said would go in one ear and out the other. However, he kept on with his smiling, and pretence of recognition.

His morning visitor, however, stayed rooted to the spot, clearly dumbstruck. Draco squinted ever so slightly. It appeared to be a young man, more or less the same age as himself. He had messy, black hair that looked like it naturally stayed in the exact style of the youth of today. He had the most amazing green eyes, masked slightly by rounded glasses he was wearing, which were sliding down his nose in that librarian 'Can-I-help-you?' manner. His lips were parted in a sort of 'oh!' shape, that Draco was used to seeing, but often in situations not at all like this one. His body was thin and muscular, much like Draco's, but his shoulders were broader and he was slightly taller, his skin a darker hue as well.

It suddenly dawned upon Draco that the young man in front of him was rather good looking.

He wondered briefly why he wasn't accepting the offer of coming in. Perhaps they had already shagged, and Draco has disrespected him in the morning? Yes, that was probably it. He lowered his extended arm and folded it across his chest with another one, waiting for the yells and screams of 'What about us? Didn't that night mean anything to you?' and he'd have to quietly explain that he didn't waste time on naïve juveniles such as themselves.

The young man in front of him, however, did not look angry or heart broken, merely acutely embarrassed. Draco looked around to see what there was to be embarrassed of, and suddenly was made aware of the fact that he was only wearing his boxers. He looked back at the young man, who, blushing, seemed to be very uncomfortable. Draco sighed. He hated dealing with guys who flew on the other team.

'I'm sorry, are you embarrassed by my gorgeously beautiful naked chest?' Draco wanted to say, but after all, it was the morning, so all that came out was a mumbled 'Sorry,' with a vague gesture to his lack of clothing. The young man shrugged.

'No, no, it's fine...really fine...' he said vaguely, letting his eyes wander up and down Draco's body. Draco raised an eyebrow, and the young man, suddenly becoming aware of what he had just said, gave an embarrassed titter. Perhaps they were in the same boat, after all.

And what brings you to my haven at this ungodly hour of the morning, my young sir? Draco would have said, but there was still that morning thing...

'Whaddya want?' he grumbled. Oh God, how embarrassing. He sounded so...so...so straight!

'Well,' said the young man, looking faintly bemused, 'I actually came about the ad in the paper for a flatmate!' he laughed, like it was some kind of joke. 'Never expected to even see you again, let alone the next day.' he laughed again.

Look, I'm really sorry, but mornings are just a killer time for me! I spend all night partying; the last thing I want to do is get up. Wink The point is, my brain isn't actually functioning at the high capacity it usually does. Judging by your statement we're fairly familiar with one another, so maybe if you could inform me of your particulars we could have a more two-sided conversation over refreshments?

Yeah right, Draco. 'Mornings...bad...who are you?'

The young man blinked. 'Harry. Harry Potter.'

Potter. Oh shit. Following me round, are you Potter? Stalking me? Trying to get your hands on some of the Malfoy goodness (and I'm not just talking about the money!).

'Whaddya doing here?' was what came out. Great, Draco.

'I told you.' another laugh. 'I saw the ad in the paper...'

Indeed you did tell me. What a coincidence! Though I must say, my ad was the best articulated, most interesting one there, don't you agree?

'Right.' said Draco.

Pause.

'Well, I mean...' Harry started.

You really think this place is low enough for your standards? Draco felt like saying. All that happened was a glare.

Harry sighed. 'Right. I'll go.' And he turned around and began his descent of the stone steps.

'Wait.' Draco said, cursing fate.

Harry turned around. 'Yeah?' Harry said with an amused look on his face.

'It's been in the paper for ages.' he said. Now, was that enough, Draco?

Harry raised an eyebrow, almost a perfect imitation of Snape. 'What are you saying?'

'Well, it's quite big, and ...I need the rent...and....well, do you want to kind of...have a look around?' Draco said, wishing he really didn't have to do this. Really wishing he had his mind with him.

'You need the rent? Isn't Daddy keeping you supplied?'

''S dead.' Draco muttered.

'Oh.' said Harry. 'Sorry.' he said, looking anything but sorry.

'Well?'

Harry, however, looked reluctant. 'Are you sure? Maybe I should come back when you're not so totally...wrecked. When you're capable of making sensible decisions.' he snorted. 'Though I suppose then I might as well not come back at all, then.'

Draco blinked. Without a word, he turned around and walked down the hall. Harry noticed he had a large tattoo on his back of a dragon, which was sleeping. He looked at it closely, and suddenly realised it was moving. Snoring, to be exact.

'Nice tattoo.' Harry said down the hall.

''S charmed. Reflects my mood.' muttered Draco, and got himself another cup of coffee. He sat down, and stared expectantly at Harry. Harry stood loitering at the door for a while, but eventually, looking far more furtive than the situation warranted, he came in, shutting the door quietly behind him.

'Nice place.' he said.

It is rather, isn't it? Though I find a good environment is good for the spirit. And, after all, I've always been much more cultured and sophisticated than many of my peers. Pointed look.

'Hmm.' was all he managed.

'You're awfully quiet.'

Draco waved a hand. 'Mornings.'

Harry smiled. 'They're a killer, huh.'

Draco nodded. 'Coffee helps.'

A pause. Then:

'This is kind of weird, isn't it?' Harry asked.

'Hmm?'

'I mean...' Harry started off, with a confused look on his face, 'Don't we, like...hate each other?' he finished, exasperatedly.

'As far as I know.' Draco said quietly, taking another sip.

'Then, um...what am I doing here?'

'Waiting to be slaughtered by a Death Eater ambush, which you idiotically walked straight into.' Draco said, smiling pleasantly.

Harry chuckled, but then his face paled, and his eyes skirted around.

Draco laughed.

'You're...you're kidding...aren't you?' Harry asked.

This caused Draco to chuckle.

'Put it this way, Potter,' Draco said, feeling the effects of the coffee already, 'If I'm not, you, standing there, are as good as dead anyway.'

He took another sip.

'Oh.' said Harry. Then, 'But are you?'

Draco laughed. 'Yes. I found it rather degrading to bow down to someone who hasn't had sex in most likely over half a century.' he took another sip. 'And I wasn't lying last night.'

But he could tell he'd made Harry nervous. He sighed.

'Sit down. Have a drink.'

Harry eyed him warily, then sat down. He picked up the coffee pot, and poured some into his cup.

'Ugh, what is this stuff?' he asked, sipping it.

'Best not to think about it.' said Draco, pursing his lips. 'There's almost nowhere that sells decent coffee around here.'

Harry snorted. 'There's a few.' and he took another grimacing sip.

There was a long silence.

'So.' Draco said, finally.

'So what?' Harry said, smiling a little.

'What happens now?'

Harry shrugged.

'Well, do you like the place?'

Harry shrugged and nodded at the same time.

'What the hell was that?'

Harry sighed. 'It's very nice.' he said into his cup.

'Did you read the ad? Do you...I mean, is it in your league?'

'What?'

'Can you afford it, is what I mean.' Draco said, not quiet managing to get the old sneer out of his voice. He knew perfectly well that Harry couldn't.

Harry nodded. Draco stared.

'How?' he demanded.

'Excuse me?'

'How can you?'

'Well,' said Harry, looking faintly bewildered, 'My parents left me some money when they died.'

'And you've only just found out about it.'

'No,' said Harry, frowning, 'I've always known.'

'Then why didn't you use it to buy yourself some new clothes? God and here was me thinking the reason the Weasleys were so nice to you is because you're the one person in the world who's poorer than them!'

Harry glared. Draco shrugged. There was another length pause.

'Well, I mean, how soon would you be able to move in?' Draco asked eventually. Harry sighed.

'Are you sure this is a good idea?'

Draco shrugged. 'As far as I'm concerned, living is a good idea, and that's not going to continue if I don't have any money.'

'Ever heard of getting a job, Malfoy?'

'I've got one, thank you very much.'

'Oh yeah? Where?'

'You're more like Snape than you know, Potter. You've got an extremely large nose for other people's business.'

'Just curious.'

A pause.

'Well?' Draco prompted.

'Well what?'

'When would you be able to move in?'

'Only if you're...I mean, if anyone else...when...'

'Take some initiative, Potter!'

'Now.'

'What?' Draco exclaimed, spilling half his coffee down his front.

Harry grinned. 'You told me to take some initiative. So I did. I'm going to apparate over to my hotel room, grab my stuff, and apparate back here. I'll be set up in ten minutes.'

'You can apparate?' Draco seemed shocked.

Harry was equally surprised. 'Yeah. Can't you?'

'Never learnt.' Draco said, wistfully.

'Oh. Sorry.' A small smile. 'Maybe I could teach you.'

'Lessons from you? I don't think so.'

'Why not? Too proud?'

'No. Too attached to my body parts. Literally. And I want it to stay that way.'

Harry laughed. 'Right.'

Another pause.

'I'll go, then, shall I?'

'Alright.' said Draco, only barely aware of what was happening so fast. Harry grinned, and pulling out his wand, began to get a dazed, dreamy look on his face.

'Potter, wait!' said Draco. Harry snapped out.

'Yeah?'

'One more thing.'

'Yeah?'

'I'll let you stay on one condition.'

'Ye-eah?'

'I have a few rules.'

Harry sighed. 'Clean the toilet, pick up after yourself, and cast silencing charms when bringing home guests? Yeah, so do I.'

'Well, those. And don't you dare bring any Weasley creatures near this place.'

'They're my friends, Malfoy.'

'I don't care. They're not to set foot in here. That's my condition.'

'Fine.' Harry snapped. 'In that case, you're not to bring an Pansy creatures in.'

Draco snorted. 'Don't mind if I don't. Oh, and Potter?'

'Yes?'

'If you're going to be in any way associated with me...'

'Which I won't.'

'Yes, but people might see you here...'

'And?'

'Please, Potter. For my sake, and the rest of the world's.... buy some new clothes.'

Harry shook his head and sighed.