A/N: Hey guys, I'm back from camp! WOO! So, here's some fic like I promised, and the regular sunday deadline should be affective by this Sunday. So, thank you all for waiting patiently, I know it probably killed most of you like it killed me to keep it from you, but here it is. Thank you, love you all.
-Dark
Disclaimer: I own the plot, that's it.
Warning: Contains Slash!
REVIEWS:
Kia- Kawaii Princess: Thank you so much for the compliments. I was thinking of redoing the prequel, as one of my next projects. What do you think?
Fefysssss: Thanks for the review, and yes I do sometimes go out to the club, and I don't go as far as Harry but I can come close ;) just kiddin, I love ya fefs and keep reviewing!
marmalade778: I loved this review, so thanks. Please, keep reviewing!
Allie: yeah...you're right...it does sound like a baby learning to talk when Harry was drunk..although some people do revert to youth when drunk, anyway thanks for the review.
bloodyXsilverXrose: yeah, I know, and my timing sucked on the whole going to camp thing...even though I was forced...anyway thanks for the great review!
diamondgurl: yeah, Allie said something along the same lines...but thanks for the review, it was wonderful. Please keep doing so!
Sweetorchid: Thank you so much for the encouragment, it's reviews like that, that make me want to update sooner and faster and all that, so thank you.
Well folks, that's about it I guess. I want to thank everyone who reviewed, because it means alot to me to see that people actually enjoy my stories. Now I wasn't sure If I liked this chapter but I'm going to post it anyway. So please read and review, thanks, love you all.
-Dark
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Chapter 6
"Hungover"
Harry woke up with a splitting headache, one which he knew he deserved because he went and had too much to drink. When he thought of his new desk job starting today, his ache only increased. Hermione had worked hard to give him that auror job and he repays her by going ou and not telling anyone where he was going? To get drunk none the less.
He checked his clock and saw that it was noon exactly, where as his job had to be reported to by 1:00 in the afternoon. He was thankful for his internal alarm clock that had been integrated into his schedule since he was little, for it had saved him once again. He got in the shower, and turned the knob almost all the way hot, because he needed a nice treat before work.
Once Harry got out of the shower, and was changing, an owl promptly flew through the window and dropped a letter on his bed before flying out again. Hermione's pretty slanted cursive jumped from the scroll as he untied it to read the contents. He read through the letter and groaned. Grabing his wand off the bedside table he sat down on the edge of his bed and tapped his forehead, making the pain go away, and then he picked up the letter to consider it further.
Hermione wanted him to meet her and Draco after work at a pub. He let a snort escape him, and into the empty room. How typical of Draco not to have told Hermione what he'd been up to last night, otherwise the letter would have been a howler. As he left the house, he hailed a cab and decided on the way to work that he'd accept the invite but desperatly hoped it wasn't one of those sleezy bars where there was numbers written all over the bathroom walls.
After sending the cab away with a tip, he made his way slowly over to the telephone booth he had used in his school years. Like the light that flooded the compartment suddenly, his mind flooded with memories. All the way back to fifth year during his hearing, and even coming to fight in the department of ministries. Except those were the times when stupid people like fudge was minister...no now, Ron was minister and there wasn't a thing gone terribly wrong under his watch.
Before stepping out into the offices, he took a dep breath. As he walked up the halls out of the elevator that had taken him to the auror's department, he walked past several cubicles to get to the Head Auror's office. He saw some people he recognized that still worked there. Tonks was getting older but she hid it well with her powers, Kingsley wasn't as lucky though because you could see the grey in his hair. Finally, he found himself at the door of the Head auror. He knocked on the wooden frame, and stared at the Golden name plate that contained "Zeb Killingsworth" on it, until he was called inside.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
"Come" a voice sad, stern and commanding yet soft and tired at the same time.
"Hello sir, I'm Harry Potter and I-"
"Wish to become an auror." He finished for Harry not looking up.
"Yes, Sir." He replied, not missing a beat.
Finally, the guy Harry guessed had to be Zeb, came around the desk. "So...the famous Harry Potter wants to work for the ministry?"
"Correct" Harry replied in a steady voice.
"Do you have anyone that recommended you?" he asked boredly.
"Ron Weasley Minister of Magic, and Hermione Granger Daily Prophet Reporter."
"Well, Seems you've got a mighty powerful group of friends...Alright, I'm going to give you a temporary field commission, and if you step out of line, don't think your friends power will save you or get you special treatment, understood?"
"Yes sir."
"Now, these are your work robes and badge that you will need to change into immediatly. I'll send someone to help you once you've completed that task."
"Thank you Mr. Zeb."
"Just Zeb will do thank you."
"Alright."
Once he was done changing, he headed back the way he had come, and once he was in the space with the cubicles again, Tonks and Kingsley were immediatly right beside him.
"This way Harry." Tonks said as she escorted him to a cubicle where his name was newly labeled on the outside.
"Now," said Kingsly "We'll be in our offices if you need us, and we'll be sending some work for you to complete along with instructions on how to complete it. I suspect that after your temporary commission is up and you're granted a real one, you'll be placed in the field area and not behind some desk, so don't get too cozy here. See ya Harry."
He was barely able to say a proper goodbye back before they left. He kept readjusting his name badge while waiting for kingsly to send that work. Harry had basically lost touch with anything Voldemort related, aside from his scar, and he really only applied fro Ron & Hermione's sake, because having no real formal training besides the D.A. he would have thought that he wouldn't get such a good job. Now after so little years he was returning to a world he'd tried to run away from, and one where he wasn't exactly sought out to rejoin.
A flow of air rushed into the office as a not-so-small stack of papers stacked themselves neatly on his desk, with one of those flying memos coming in after it which he suspected to be instructions for the work. By the looks of it they were all reports that needed to be summarized and sent to the proper departments. At the time the feat seemed an easy one, but as the hours wore on, that thought was erased from his mind. When, finally, the workers were being let out, he knew he would go to the pub not for the company but for the much needed drinks.
Harry was just about to floo over to Hermione's designated pub when Tonks ran up and joined him.
"Hey there!" She exclaimed happily.
"Hello Tonks, you seem pleased." Harry replied.
"Yes I am...pleased to see you! I haven't seen you since seventh year!" she said, eager to catch up.
"I know...it's just, I've been trying to stay out of the ministry's way." Harry lied.
"Till now you mean. Oh my, I'm really happy to see you again, and we're colleages! Do you want to go somewhere and catch up?" She asked hopefully.
So hopeful in fact that Harry couldn't just let her down. "Well actually I'm going to a pub with Hermione and Draco. Would you like to come?"
"Hermione! Oh now I just can't miss this opportunity!" she said as if she didn't hear that Draco was going. Harry wished now that he could be like Tonks and ignore that little fact but quite the contrary, it was all that occupied his mind.
They arrived at the Shriek Shack which was built in honor of the Marauders...a feat that took Ron nine months to convince someone it should be done. The place was by no means shabby, and only had the look of faded glory. Tonks and Harry spotted the table at which Hermione and Draco were seated and made their way there.
"Hermione! How are you?" She asked enthusiastically, pulling her into a hug.
"Uh, fine Tonks, and yourself?" Replied Hermione, trying to seem casual but it was apparent she was suprised. Harry smirked at this. Served her right. He had a feeling she knew he had wanted to be alone last night, but she still sent Draco of all people anyway.
While Tonks was busy still greeting Hermione, Draco pulled him into a hug as well. "Harry" he breathed, as if it relieved him of great pain to be next to harry.
"How's Sam?" Harry asked as he backed out of the hug and sat down, as if reminding Draco he had a fiancee.
"Good." He replied reluctantly.
"So now that I've caught up with almost everyone, how are you Draco? When are you and Harry going to be married? Oh come now Harry, I know about the engagement." she scolded as Harry choked on his appetizer.
"Um, Tonks" He replied still trying to find the words but found the glowing bar lights more interesting.
"Well?" she asked expectantly at everyone.
"I'm engaged, but..."
"NOT to me." Harry finished sharply for him.
"Oh." Tonks said quietly. "Sorry Harry, the last I'd heard you two were still...anyway..."
Suddenly the table became more awkward than just between Harry and Draco.
"Well." Said Hermione, a smile plastered on her face. "How's the new job Harry?"
"It's ok. I had alot to do today, even though I'm new and everything."
"Yeah well, if Zeb keeps you, you'd better get used to it." Tonks warned.
"Zeb?" Draco asked, trying to be included in the conversation.
"My boss." Harry replied. "At least for the time being."
"Oh right, the head auror at the ministry, He's ancient, my father knew him." continued Draco, helping himself to some wine.
"Hi, can I get ya'll something to eat?" a cute waiter said, immediatly reminding Harry of the day he met Sam.
"Yes, I would like some medium-well steak with fried potatoes and toast." Draco replied, handing the waiter the menu.
"Ok, and anyone else?"
"Just some Arbor Mist, Thanks." Harry answered.
"Alright your orders will be out soon." Then he left, without another word.
"Well," Tonks said, breaking the silence after a while, "I have to go to the restroom. Hermione, would you be so kind as to accompany me?"
"But--"
"Thank you so much." Tonks said and pulled her arm so they were both gone in a few moments.
"So." Draco said once they were alone. "About last night...why'd you do it?"
Harry was saved the trouble of answering by an announcement being made.
"Excuse the interruption, but Karoke starts now. Now, who'll be first? Ah yes you young man." the owner said pointing at Draco who spontaneously stood at the call for a singer. Draco squared his shoulders and walked up to the stage, holding dignity. He whispered a song into the ear of the owner, so no one else heard. Suddenly a melody from Beth Nielson Chapman's new album started playing. Harry recognized the tune at once, from his home cd collection. The song was called "Trying to love you" and Draco's beautiful voice rang out in song.
Blew out all my plans
the world fell in my hands,
the day that I began
trying to love you.
The secrets I have kept,
the nights I haven't slept
I've laughed until I've wept
trying to love you.
Tryin to love you
no one's come as close
or gone so far
Tryin to love you,
I've lost and found
myself in who you are
Tryin to love you
So easy and so Hard
tryin to love you
I've watched myself get stuck.
I've squandered all my luck,
almost given up
tryin to love you.
Tryin to love you,
it's broke my heart and chipped away my pride
Tryin to love you everytime I'd see the fault line slide,
I've crossed the great divide
Tryin to love you.
Tryin to love you,
I've screamed you're name,
slammed a thousand doors,
I've tread a million miles across these floors,
Still I could not ignore, tryin to love you.
It's poured the best from me, for all the world to see and I will always be...
tryin to love you.
The crowd applauded as he stepped off stage. Including Hermione and Tonks as they re-appeared out of the bathroom. The next singer went up as Harry stared at Draco.
"You wanted to know how I felt at tea Harry, and that song, explains it."
The rest of the night passed away in a non-conversational blur until Harry finally reached home, late. He threw his keys on the table and flopped on the bed, too tired to change. He had a feeling that this would become a routine for him, just like his on-going game with Draco. That man, just confused the shit out of him. Suddenly, on impulse, Harry picked up his bedside phone and dialed Draco's number. Preferring this way, to the magical way.
"Hello." Came Draco's tired voice.
"Did you mean tonight?"
"Harry?...Yes."
"But Draco...you have a fiancee, you're getting married."
"If you were truly interested in me, then we'd talk about things, and I'd be inclined--"
"To break things off with Sam?" Harry finished. Then he sighed, thinking of all the trouble this already was. "Right now...I--"
"Don't know what you want." Draco finished. "Understandably Harry...just know that it was true what the song said tonight...I'll always be trying."
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A/N: Well, that's it folks. That's the chapter. I worked on it during camp, so hope it's not too horrible. Also, I tottally do not claim anything from that song, it was on Beth Nielson Chapman's cd, and I do not make money from it...so there that's my disclaimer on that.
Anyway, enjoy, read and review. Thanks, love you all.
-Dark.