Take a Picture of Me, Harry

By: Aria DC al Fine

Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 2

Harry grunted and put down his camera. "Not like that, Draco. Don't stand still or pose. Just do it…naturally…"

The blonde glared at his new employer. "It's kind of hard, you know, with you looming at the background, Potter."

"Harry," the photographer muttered darkly, "just ignore me, won't you?"

"A creepy pervert like you? As if I can?" Draco shot back.

"DRACO!" The ex-Gryffindor shouted desperately, losing his temper, "just do it, won't you? Imagine that I do not exist. You have the whole garden to yourself. Just…run around, and smile, won't you?"

'It's stupid…' the model muttered under his breath, but he nodded, anyway, "I'll try, Potter."

"Harry! Call me Harry, Draco!" Harry seemed like he was going to pull his hair.

Draco frowned and threw his hands up. "Why must I do it? It's just a name, anyway."

Harry glared at him hotly, "come on; call me that if 'it's just a name anyway'."

The blonde scowled at his wrong use of words and shifted his weight on his feet. "I'm just…not use to it, all right. You have been Potter for so long…and…"

Harry did put down his camera into his bag and place both his hands on Draco's shoulders. "Draco," he said, his emerald eyes staring deeply into Draco's grey ones, "You must get used to is, or else your photo won't look beautiful."

The pale man scowled again. "Who says?" he asked rhetorically, "I can just pretend. I'm a good actor"

Having given up on trying to knock sense into the blonde's stubborn head, Harry pulled a Polaroid camera from his bag and decided to just show him. "All right, now, Draco, try to look very, very sad, scared, tired but resigned like you had been in the 'Broken Angel'."

Draco scrunched up his nose, but he nodded, anyway. "Okay."

Harry nodded and pulled the camera up. "Ready?"

The blonde seemed to be trying his best to comply with Harry's wishes. "Okay," he answered when he finally settled on the expression.

Harry took a photo of it, and waited for the result to come out. He frowned at it before showing it to Draco. "Look, Draco, look at the product of your 'pretence'."

The blonde took the picture in his hands and scowled again. Okay, he looked sad, scared, tired and resigned enough, but those emotions were just on the surface, and compared to the 'Broken Angel', it looked completely fake, not beautiful at all.

Harry sighed and took the photo away. "I told you, right? It cannot compare to 'Broken Angel' at all. Hell, it doesn't even have a tenth of 'Broken Angel's beauty. Do you understand what I mean?"

Draco nodded acquiescently, admitting his mistake.

The Photographer placed his Polaroid Camera into his bag before placing his hands on his model's shoulders again. "Photos cannot lie, Draco. Your smiles, your content look, anything won't look beautiful if you're not really feeling those. These emotions get captured as well as your expression, Draco, and that's what's transferred to the people who look at your photos." He softened his grip and smiled softly. "Do you understand?"

Draco nodded again, still as weakly as he did before.

Harry released his hold and turned his back to his ex-rival. "You know, many people say that we are most beautiful when we are in love," He looked at the blue summer sky wistfully before closing his eyes, "and I agree with them."

They stayed in silence for a moment.

"The reason I ask you to call me Harry, Draco," Harry whispered when he turned around to his model and put his finger under his chin to raise his head, smiling when the blonde looked at him, "is that because I want you to learn to fall in love with me."

Draco frowned and almost pushed Harry away, "w-what-?"

"I want you to fall in love with me," Harry repeated, his hand moving to squeeze Draco's arm, "only through the camera, Draco. Only through the camera."

The ex-Slytherin blinked confusedly. "I'm afraid…I-I don't understand…"

"You only need to love me when I am taking a picture of you, Draco, only at that time," Harry said patiently, "you can hate me however you want when I'm not holding my camera, but when I do you must love me, that time only. Only then, we can produce the most beautiful photo in the world."

They fell into another silence, this one rather uncomfortable, before Draco lowered his head and began. "…I-I'm tired…I want to rest first…"

Harry nodded and pulled his hands off his model. "Rest well until tomorrow, Draco. You're still too thin. I'll…probably I'll get you a dog so that you can move more naturally here. A golden retriever. Yeah, that will be good." The photographer spoke thoughtfully to himself before he smiled softly to his model. "Rest well, Draco."

The grey-eyed man nodded. "See you…Po…Potter." He then disappeared to the apartment.

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'To love Harry Potter, even if only through the camera…' Draco tossed and turned in his new comfortable king-sized bed in Harry's guestroom, staring at the white ceiling. After a while, he scowled at it, before punching his soft pillow to make it more comfortable for him. But it was useless; sleep wasn't coming to him at all. A feeling of dread began to fill the pit of his stomach as he turned to his side. 'Am I going to be able to do it?'

'It's not a question of able or not – it's a must,' a voice said from the back of his mind, 'after all, you were the one who said it yourself, didn't you? That you'll produce the most beautiful photo in the world.'

Draco scowled at the voice. 'At that time, I don't know that loving Harry Potter is required in the package.'

The blonde could almost feel the voice shrugging at him. 'Only through the camera, my dear, only through the camera. What's so revolting about that guy, anyway?'

The man on the bed sucked his breath and began, 'He's my biggest archrival-'

'Ex' the voice replied smoothly. Draco ignored it and continued, 'he's a sodding self-righteous Gryffindor-'

'Like it'll kill you. Admit it, you like his righteousness.'

Draco sighed. 'I'm having a conversation with my head. I must be insane…'

'Your own statement, not mine.'

'Shut up.'

Deciding to just ignore his sodding inner voice, Draco closed his and tried to sleep. He would think about it again tomorrow. After all, he was sure that Potter wouldn't appreciate it if he was getting eye bags because of this.

-----------------------------

When his model approached him the next afternoon, looking slightly nervous with his hands in his pants' pockets, Harry smiled softly at him. "So, how's the rest?"

"Fine," Draco lied and used one hand to fidget with his hair, "H-Harry."

The green-eyed man's smile widened. "Good. Just wait for me to finish setting the camera and then we'll be starting."

The pale man bit his lip and decided to speak. "Erm…H-Harry, about having to love you through the camera-"

"I'll change my words," the photographer said without looking up from his complicated looking camera, "You don't need to love me through the camera. All you need to do is imagine that instead of the camera, the person you're in love with is watching you. That should be easier."

The blonde shuffled his feet. "I-I…don't have anyone I love…"

Harry looked up then, and raised his eyebrow. "Really? How about a former lover? Pansy Parkinson?"

The ex-Slytherin scowled darkly at the mention of her name. "No, I hated that pug," he almost spat before his look changed to one of worries, "…a-and no…I don't have any other former lover…"

"And here I was, thinking that you were some sort of Slytherin Sex God or something," Harry muttered and pinched his temple while the blonde blushed deeply. "Gods…this is harder than I previously thought…"

"I-I… it's okay! I…I-I have decided to just love you…through the camera, that is," the normally eloquent heir of Malfoy bloodline almost stuttered, his cheeks turning redder.

The photographer looked up at the blushing angel and laughed good-humouredly. "Thank you," he smiled to his model as he cupped his pale pinkish face.

They stayed in that position for a long time, Draco trying to avoid looking into his employer's eyes when suddenly a big figure barked at them from behind Harry's back and leapt at him when the ex-Gryffindor moved away, knocking him off his feet. The blonde opened his eyes and looked at the creature with awe and surprise.

It was a dog. A fully-grown golden retriever, to be exact. He (or is it a she?) was beautiful, with long and silky golden fur and a lively pair of dark eyes, which were staring at the petite male in curiosity.

"I told you that I was getting a dog, didn't I?" Harry bent down and hugged the big dog, pulling it off Draco's body at the same time, "His name is Cliff. Cliff, say hello to Draco."

The dog sat up straightly and barked happily, wagging his tail.

Draco laughed as he squatted and reached out to scratch Cliff's ear, smiling as the dog leaned to his touch. "He's a beautiful dog."

Harry shrugged. "Of course. I can't very well be getting you a stray, scruffy dog, can I? It won't look good in the photo."

The blonde nodded, his cheeks tingeing pink at the underlying compliment. He continued to pet the dog before Harry tapped his shoulder. "Walk him with you around the garden, won't you? Just do it naturally. I'll take some snaps here and there, and if you happen to notice the camera, remember: you are in love with me through the lens. Now, go."

Draco stood up, and they took off. Soon enough, the petite ex-Slytherin was already chasing the over-energetic golden retriever around the apartment estate's large and deserted backyard.

"Cliff!" the blonde huffed, cursing as the dog refused to turn to him and quickened his pace, running as fast as his rather short legs could bring him, "wait for me, Cliff!"

Draco was breathing heavily, and his face was pink because of physical exertion, but despite all that, his grey eyes were shining happily, a small content smile tugging his pale thin lips upwards a little. In short, he looked strangely beautiful. Harry raised his camera silently and took a snap on that picture.

The two golden-haired males (one a human and the other a dog) continued to run until they reached the pool. Cliff stuck one paw to the water curiously before literally jumping in, shocking Draco and the pool manager. Thankfully, the dog didn't stay in the pool for long. When he was on the grounds again he shook his whole body to get the water off his fur, sending droplets of gleaming cold water to the blonde, who was standing near the dog, and Draco closed his eyes and crossed his hands up to prevent the water from wetting his clothes, laughing at Cliff, who looked like a huge drowned rat now, afterwards. Harry took photos of his model's astonished face, the scene where Draco was defending himself from the spraying water, and another of Draco's free laughter.

They continued to roam around the park until noon, the sun drying Cliff's fur. The dog rolled down the slight hill as Draco tripped down, and as they sat up they were laughing and barking happily at each other. Then, the blonde moved to hug the mutt's neck and pet his long golden fur. Cliff showed his appreciation by snuggling to his owner before licking his face, making Draco blink and yelp ahead of laughing again at the feeling of wet sand-papery tongue on his face. Harry walked closer to them and took two photos of them.

Suddenly, when Draco was leaning his head comfortably on the big creature's warm body, his long white blonde hair sprawling over Cliff's darker golden hair, he turned and caught sight of Harry's telltale camera lens focusing on him.

For a fleeting moment, Draco almost panicked, before he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Relax Draco, relax. You love that person behind the camera. He clenched his fist determinedly. Yes, someone you love is watching you!

The model opened his eyes, and Harry gasped.

The expression on Draco's face was one of pure contentment. His lips were curling slightly in a soft smile. Strands of silvery hair were falling to his expressive eyes, which were half closed in satisfaction. The most impressing thing, though, was that there was love in those grey orbs, happiness and joy and pure love shining to the camera, as though beckoning his lover to join his laying lazily under the sun, and taking Harry's breath away.

"Impressive," the photographer muttered and took a snap of him, forever capturing the beauty in a picture.

Draco heard that comment and blushed. "Thank you," he said quietly.

Harry put down his camera and shook his head. "No. I should be the one to say that," he approached the blonde and smiled. "Thank you, Draco. For being able to love me through the camera," He offered his model his hand.

The blonde took the hand and smiled back at him employer. "You're welcome, Harry."

The two stood in silence before Cliff hosted himself to his feet and barked before running in the direction of their apartment.

Harry stared at his pet and laughed. "Cliff's right. You must be tired. Let's retreat for the day."

Draco nodded, and they took off in the direction of their still enthusiastic dog back to their flat.

----------------------------

"Ocean's World?" Draco asked confusedly. Cliff whined and the blonde continued brushing the dog's fur immediately, silently apologising to him.

"Yeah," Harry said absentmindedly, smiling as he was going through the photos he took the other day, "It has big aquariums. Contains lots of fishes. Consider it as a treat for your satisfactory work a few days ago."

The ex-Slytherin blinked at him. "Aquariums?" he repeated.

The black-haired man turned to his model then, his green eyes wide. "You don't know what an aquarium is? Never been to one?" he asked disbelievingly.

Draco shook his head, his grey eyes still looking at Harry blankly.

The ex-Gryffindor looked taken aback. "I thought you have, you know…since you have been in the Muggle World for a year and more now…"

The last Malfoy alive on earth shook his head again and looked down at the floor. "I was too busy working…" he said dejectedly.

Harry shook his head and walked to the other man, berating himself inwardly for being so insensitive. "Doesn't matter," he said to him and smiled, "I'll take you there now."

Draco smiled back at him and the knot in his heart loosened immediately. The blonde put down the comb and gave the dog one last pet before asking Harry, "Is Cliff going with us?"

The ex-Boy-Who-Lived frowned and shook his head. "I don't think so. Pets are not allowed." He sent his employee an apologetic look. "I'm sorry."

As if knowing that he was going to be left out, Cliff snuggled to Draco and whined again.

The ex-Death Eater frowned at the dog before sending it an apologetic look too. "Sorry, Cliff. You heard what Harry said."

The golden retriever whined one last time before scurrying to his bed, apparently angry at his masters.

Harry and Draco looked at the dog's antiques amusedly before laughing with each other. When the laughter died down, the bigger man of the two offered his hand to the paler man. "Shall we go now?"

Draco took it and nodded, but not before smiling at his company again.

-------------------------

"Whoa…" the exiled wizard gasped in awe as he took in the sight of many kinds of fishes swimming in huge glass water tanks muggles called 'aquariums'. He ran to the nearest one and pressed his hands on the glass, his face erupting to a big grin as he watched a herd of anglerfishes swimming pass him. Harry laughed at the blonde's enthusiasm before he approached him. "So how? Do you like the place?"

Draco turned to Harry and grinned even wider. "Of course! Thanks, Harry!"

The photographer smiled back at him and shrugged, "let's explore the place, shall we?"

Harry took lots of photos that day. It had been in his mind, of course, but it wasn't his main purpose. No, his main purpose was to let his model enjoy himself once in a while.

And enjoying himself Draco did. He ran enthusiastically around the place, watching the fishes closely before breaking into a series of breathtaking grins, in which Harry took photos of. The photographer also took a picture of his model when the blonde was peering curiously at a seahorse, or looking frightfully at the sharks and the piranhas, or staring in awe at the big whale, laughing when Draco poked his finger at the glass to surprise a docile looking fish and got surprised himself when the fish bloated itself to a big and sharp-looking needle ball before taking photos of those too. Harry was having a field day, indeed.

They walked around for some more time before reaching the centre of the building, where the owner placed dozens of different species of fishes and marine creatures into a huge column-shaped aquarium. Draco ran to it too and looked at the fishes in awe before turning to the other man. "Harry, look!" he called him.

The blonde was mildly surprised when Harry was raising his camera at him.

This time, Draco didn't panic. He simply continued to grin widely and pressed his hand on the glass, where dozens of colourful fishes, big and small, were swimming before him, the water seeming so blue behind him, making his pale form glow, still looking at Harry in happiness, and love, which lightened his handsome face. Harry is watching me, he thought to himself and his grin widened, the person I love is watching me. I'm so happy.

Harry's breath was caught in his throat when he pressed his finger on the button of his camera. Beautiful he rasped mentally, simply too beautiful.

Apparently, he wasn't the only one who thought so. Dozens of other people in the room stopped walking pass them and watched, their feet rooted to the ground, as the blonde continued to radiate joy and love from his twinkling silvery grey eyes, their breaths caught in their throat as well. It was that beautiful.

Eventually, Draco realised that the space between Harry and himself was clear, and he looked around at the people, who were still standing still, in confusion. "Err…" he started awkwardly, "you can walk pass, you know… I'm sure Harry's finished…"

No one moved. They acted like they hadn't heard his voice.

"Err…" Draco frowned, "people?"

Suddenly, a girl walked up to him and asked, in awe, "Are you a model?"

"Eh…" the blonde's cheeks turned pinkish in embarrassment as he nodded, "…kind of…"

"I know!" another woman exclaimed as she approached the ex-Slytherin too, "You're the model of 'Broken Angel', aren't you? The one that wins the annual award this year?"

Draco blushed even further and stepped away from them, effectively pressing himself to the glass of the column-shaped aquarium, "Y-yes…I am…"

As soon as he said that, everyone gasped audibly and went to him like bees buzzing around an extremely sweet-smelling flower. "May I have your autograph, please? Does that mean that Mr Evans is nearby as well?"

Oh God…help me…The model thought as he looked at the horde of people surrounding him, his heart beating faster in panic, "I-I…"

Finally, after pushing through the crowd, Harry came to his rescue. He raised one hand and pressed it against the glass next to Draco's frightened form, effectively defending him from the wild mob of fans. The ex-Gryffindor winked at the closest female, who blushed at him as she realised who he was, and said smoothly, "I'm sorry, but Draco and I are kind of busy right now." Draco was looking up at his employer in relief when the taller man enclosed his pale smaller hand in his own big hand. "See you in the next exhibition," Harry said to everyone in general, before forcing his way out of the building, his precious model tucked safely behind him.

It wasn't until they were safely sitting in Harry's car, a gorgeous blood-coloured Ferrari, did Draco release the breath he didn't realise he was holding. "I was so scared," he remarked.

Harry only smirked at his model. "Yes. Couldn't help it, really. You took their breath away. So did mine."

Draco blushed furiously. "H-Harry!" he attempted to protest.

The photographer only continued to smirk.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a while before Harry asked, as he pulled to a stop due to a red traffic light, "how was the trip, though? Did you like it?"

The pale man's face broke into a grin almost instantaneously. "Very much. Thanks, Harry."

The other man smiled back and replied, "You're most welcome."

The green traffic light turned on, and as they drove back to the apartment, Draco looking over the window at the streets and Harry watching the roads ahead of him, each of them had a content smile on their face.

--------------------------------

"An interview?" Harry asked before giving her a critical stare.

"Yes, an interview," the new photographer's manager, an energetic small-sized woman with short dark brown hair , a pair of big blue eyes, and a streak of what could be considered as sadism (only in photos, though) repeated, her hands clasping together over her head, pleading him. "Please! It'll just be some questions about your past in general, and your model's past too."

"Mine?" Draco interjected with a startled face from his position next to his employer before he shuddered and shook his head, "I…I don't want to…"

"And so am I," Harry said firmly to his manager, glaring at her when she tried to give him puppy eyes, which were wasted, anyway, "Cancel that interview, whatever it's for. You drag me all the way to this God knows what office for a single interview, you clearly have the nerves, haven't you?" He sharpened his glare, which became scary enough to make anyone cower and scramble out of the room.

Luckily, just like how Harry wasn't affected by her puppy eyes, the woman was also unaffected by the photographer's malicious glare. No, the manager still tried to convince her stubborn young colleague. "Please, Harry! Stop being so mysterious! It's getting old…"

"The only one who care about our pasts is you, and our every other rabid fan girl, but that's out of point, anyway," the green-eyed man said irately, "My fellow photographers and people who truly appreciate photos don't care. Something is kept a secret for a reason. We don't want to talk about our past for a very good reason. All you need to know is that we went to the same private school. You just have to accept it."

They continued to glare at each other, Draco looking alternately at the two stubborn individuals with an uneasy stare, before the woman finally gave up (thank god, or else they would be sitting there for ages… how they could work for one another is beyond me) and stated, "Fine! Just let the magazine's crew take a good photo of your model, would you?"

Harry turned to the blonde and tilted his head. "So, how, Draco? Are you up to it?"

The ex-Slytherin sighed in relief inwardly, glad that the heated staring contest was over, and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine with that."

"Okay!" the manager stood up and clapped her hands cheerfully, before grabbing the pale man's blonde and dragged him with her. "Let's go to the studio!" Harry sighed and followed.

An hour later, as Draco was standing awkwardly in the small studio, he was about to regret his choice. How could I be so stupid? He thought nervously, throwing the magazine's photographer, a middle-aged man with long unkempt dark hair, ruddy skin and scary black beady eyes, unlike those of Snape's, and the rest of the crew anxious glances.

It was the blonde's time getting shot in a studio. Oh, no, after the unexpected photo session between the aquariums, Harry and Draco had several more photo sessions, but they were always done outside, like on the streets, or in the zoo, and only the both of them were involved each time, so the ex-Slytherin didn't feel confined to express his own emotions to Harry's camera. In this restricted room, with so many people expecting him to pose for a good, beautiful photo, Draco felt very uneasy.

"The setting's all right," the crew shouted after fixing the lights, and the disheveled photographer nodded. "We'll start now," he said gruffly, "Mr Malfoy, if you're please?"

Draco nodded meekly and took a deep breath. Relax Draco. Just do it as usual.

The blonde model tried to, do it as he usually did with Harry, but somehow, it was hard with this scruffy photographer. He tried to smile naturally, imagining that it was the person he loved behind the camera, even going as far as to imagine it was Harry behind that camera, but too many people were watching and he didn't know what to do with his hands and every time he looked into the photographer's pitch black eyes he was scared, and then the people was frowning at him, and…

"E-enough," Draco said after a few unsatisfied snaps, and fell to his knees, his arms hugging himself. "I-I can't do it," he muttered dejectedly, his voice shaking faintly. He was on the verge of breaking down. The room fell into a thick unbearable silence for a while before the crew talked to each other in hushed voices. Fed up by those, Draco looked up at Harry, who was standing next to the magazine's photographer, looking at the model with concerns in his green eyes, and the blonde asked, "Why can't you just be the one to take my picture, Harry?" his tone exasperated.

Harry looked slightly surprised before he approached the blonde. "Are you okay? Is it an old claustrophobia kicking in?"

The blonde looked up and sniffed. "Partially," he admitted, "but what I really can't stand is all these people around, Harry. And the photographer!" he added in a smaller voice, "Him and his black eyes and his 'shaggy wild dog' looks are giving me the creeps."

The ex-Gryffindor laughed at the retort before turning to the magazine's manager. "Is it okay for me to be the one to take his picture?"

The tall executive woman looked down pensively. After a while, she finally said, "It would be better if our photographer can take it…but it is fine, Mr Evans, yes, you're allowed to take the picture."

Harry nodded to himself and retrieved his own camera from the bag he had been carrying with him. "May I use my own camera and give negative to you later? It's easier to set my own camera, after all, since I know it very well…"

The woman consented to him straight away. "Do as you like, Mr Evans, you're the photographer now."

The talented young man sent her a grateful smile before settling himself in an all-familiar task of setting his camera, or rather, Colin's modified old camera, as his own manager inched closer to him. "Not very talented, isn't he?" the small-sized woman said in a low voice, her finger pointing at the blonde slightly, who was sitting on his bottoms on the floor now, "he may be attractive…but if he's like this…he won't be a successful model."

Harry stifled his laugh before shaking his head in amusement. "Emily," he said to his manager, "being a model had never been in Draco's mind before I asked him to be my model."

Emily looked positively mortified. "What? With a gorgeous body and a handsome face like his?"

The green-eyed man nodded. "It's not really that much of a wonder. Oh, he does realise that he's good-looking; he was just more focused in his studies when we were at school. That, and what to do to get each other into troubles, of course," his lips curled to a small grin at the reminiscence of their worry-free old days at Hogwarts.

"Then why did you ask him to be your model? Since he's not professional?" Emily's blue eyes widened. Her colleague never ceased to surprise her with his characteristics.

Harry raised his camera to try its resolution before frowning at the black muggle contraception. "Originally, Draco was a person who doesn't trust anyone easily. He still is. But once he decided that he can trust you," he said as he was changing the light setting a little, "he'll give you everything he has, not holding anything back. Not even a millimetre of his beautiful smile." The photographer's exquisite face broke to a smile as he finally got the settings he wanted.

"All right!" Harry said loudly to catch everyone's attention, "I'm about to start," he announced, mainly to his model, "get ready, Draco."

The blonde looked up at him with something akin to fear residing his eyes, "H-harry…" he whispered as he glanced around nervously.

"Just ignore the other people, Draco," Harry instructed before raising his camera at the ex-Slytherin, "are you ready?"

Draco nodded hesitantly. He smiled at the camera, but when he caught sight of the magazine's photographer's black eyes, he cringed. Harry sighed. This is not working.

"Draco," he said to the blonde calmly, "do you remember the day Neville answered Snape's question for the first time?"

The said professor's godson furrowed his eyebrows, unsure of his ex-schoolmate's motive. "H-Harry?"

"Do you remember?" the ex-Gryffindor repeated his question more firmly.

Draco nodded confusedly. "Yes, of course I remember…it was our last lesson together…" a strange emotion flew across his grey eyes.

"Do you remember Snape's expression then?" Harry pressed on.

A grin began to form on the ex-Death Eater's pale lips. "Hell, who doesn't? It was so…comical…" he mused, his grin widening as he began to loose himself in his memory.

"Continue to think about it, won't you?" the photographer raised his camera again, a small smile gracing his own lips as his model started to laugh, "about how his vampire-like face turned agape as Neville continued to talk? Making him look like a goldfish turned vampire?"

Draco turned to a full-blown laughter, shocking the people in the studio room as his whole face lightened with joy. "He's not vampire-like!" he gasped, his hand reaching for something, anything, to hold, and settled around a cushion, which was lying near his leg. "I'm paler than him, you know!"

Harry shrugged. "Well, I used to think that there is a vampire somewhere up along your bloodline…"

"I have a fully humane pedigree, thank you very much!" Draco turned to glare at Harry, stopping when he encountered a camera instead. Having eased his heart, he continued to grin at the black muggle invention, his eyes radiating happiness, enjoyment, and, not to forget, love. The one behind that camera is Harry, not that creepy dog-like man with his eerie black eyes, Draco said to himself. Yes, Harry is watching me. His smile widened even further at the notion, love rolling off his face in waves.

'This…' Emily thought, her breath caught in her throat, 'is the same Mr Malfoy who only stood awkwardly in front of the camera just now?' She blinked repeatedly at the beautiful blonde man. 'Gods…Harry, damn you're right his free smile is downright… stunning…'

Every other people in the room, the black-eyed photographer included, stood still with the same wide-eyed expression as Harry's manager, trying to breathe as softly as possible as if they were breathing too loudly the angel before their eyes would cower and fly away from them. Even the professional magazine's manager lost her composure.

Draco continued to grin and laugh and play with his cushion and other ornaments surrounding him, love shining brighter on his eyes as seconds ticked away, and Harry continued to talk to the blonde and take many pictures of his model, both losing themselves in their activity, and before long, Harry's camera was already humming, a signal that the film had been used up. The photographer put down his camera, surprised that he had taken that many photographs already, and took out the roll after the machine stopped humming. "Here," he turned and gave the negative to the executive woman, snapping her off her trance, and so as everyone else's. "Thank you," she said to the twenty-year-old green-eyed man shakily, "we are most grateful of your work. I will make sure that these outstanding photos will be printed in our next edition."

Harry and Draco looked at each other before Harry smiled to her. "Thank you for the opportunity too," he said politely before grabbing the ex-aristocrat's hand, "Now, if you don't mind, we would like to leave…"

"Oh, of course," the woman smiled, "It was nice working with you, Mr Evans, Mr Malfoy." She shook their hands briefly, and Harry walked briskly to the door as fast as he could, his model in tow.

"Harry," Emily gasped as the black-haired man passed her, and he turned to face her. "I'm sorry, Emily, can you talk later? I'm so tired I want to reach home soon. You understand, don't you?" He shot her an apologetic look.

"O-of course…" she responded, "I'll call you about your next job tomorrow, all right?"

The ex-Boy-Who-Lived flashed his manager a smile. "Thanks, Em," he said shortly before he disappeared from the door with Draco.

The two men didn't talk until they reached Harry's car. They were again driving along the road when Harry turned to his companion and finally opened his mouth. "Andre will be happy when he sees your photos in the magazine."

The blonde, who was again, looking at the buildings over the window, turned to his employer and smiled. "Yes, I guess so."

"So…" Harry continued as he focused on the road again, "how was your first photo session in a studio?"

He was replied with a snort. "It was horrible," Draco scowled, "I couldn't really think straight, there were too many people in the small room…and the photographer's black eyes…"

The ex-Gryffindor shrugged. "I don't understand why, really," he commented, "Snape's eyes are also black after all…and you weren't afraid of him at all…"

Draco stiffened in his seat. They were quiet once again before the blonde admitted, "I-I don't know, but I think…it's more the fact that I just can't bear it when you're not the one who is taking my picture…"

"Have you tried imagining that it was someone else behind the camera?" the other man inquired.

"I did," the paler man stated honestly, "I imagined that you were behind that camera, but I just couldn't…"

"Hmm," Harry responded, "peculiar, isn't it?"

Draco didn't say anything.

They continued to drive in silence, mulling over that oddity before Harry pulled over at a corner a block away from where they were supposed to turn if they wanted to get back to their apartment. When Draco turned to look at Harry with wide confused eyes, the black-haired man only chuckled and said softly, "Let's not think about it, shall we? Would you like me to take you to a beach?" he beamed at him.

"A beach?" the model blinked.

The photographer frowned a little. "Why? Would you not like to go to a beach?" he asked concernedly.

Draco shook his head softly, his eyes slightly glazed over as he remembered about his last trip to a beach with his mother, his father absent as usual. "No, I'd like to go to a beach…it's just…it's been so long since I ever went to one…"

Harry's concerned frown transformed to a full-blast grin. "Good! Let's go now, shall we?"

The ex-Death Eater smiled too and nodded before whipping his head to his employer as he remembered something. "How about Cliff? You're not going to leave him again, will you?"

The ex-Saviour groaned and turned the car back quickly, laughing as Draco lost his breath at the sharp movement. "You're right. We'll go back to our apartment first to take Cliff and some other stuff. And then, beach, off we go!" the bigger man of the two turned to his petite employee and gave him a lop-sided grin.

Draco only shook his head and smiled at that mad expression on his ex-archrival face.

TBC

A/N: Cliff is taken from The Duck of Mr Fredward, an old Japanese manga which I doubt anyone of you know, anyway, but I love it. Tell me what you think about this chapter please!