Chapter 2: Entrancing Eyes

Rating: M

Warnings: H/D SLASH, HBP SPOILERS

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Harry Potter! Characters (except those created by us) belong to the amazingly talented J.K. Rowling, WB, and the publishing companies. Don't sue us! We are just bored teenagers having a go at poor Harry and Draco!

A/N: Edited and re-posted 10/17/06. (Still have to go through the rest of the chapters, but soon they will get done! Hopefully, there aren't any mistakes, or at least they're minimal. If anybody catches one in this chapter or the last, free story for them! Haha. On to the next chapter. Enjoy your read!)

Leaning against the door, Harry took a large shuddering breath. What had he done? He had just let go of the one person that he had felt more than friendship for. 'Was it worth it? Going through all this trouble?' he reflected. Completely forgetting about his phobia of apparition, he apparated to Ron and Hermione's apartment.

With a loud pop, he stood right outside his friends' home. He knocked and waited for the door to open, unconsciously running his hand through his already tousled hair.

Suddenly, the door flew open and there stood Hermione, bathrobe and all. Ron and Hermione were now living together and Hermione, too, worked at the Ministry of Magic, though in a different section. She was normally at home since she worked on research assigned to her by the Ministry of Magic that normally did not require her to go to the Ministry.

"Oh, Harry! So nice to see…" Hermione stopped mid sentence, noticing the paleness of Harry's face. She took in his shaking shoulders and the large suitcase in his hand. "Harry what happened? What's the matter? Is everything alright?" she said in one breath, drawing Harry forcibly into the house. Harry aimlessly followed Hermione and sat in a large, comfortable couch, waiting for Hermione to finish her anxious questioning.

"Hermione, Oliver and I broke up," Harry whispered once Hermione was silent, a knot forming in his throat. Saying it out loud made it worse. His shoulders started shaking again, and he dropped his head, trying to hide his anguish from Hermione.

"Why? What happened?" Hermione questioned, her eyes filled with concern for her friend.

"Today at the ministry they informed me of a new assignment they had for me… in the United States. They've spotted some death eaters over there and they want me to help capture them. Of course, I had to say yes, Hermione. It's the one opportunity I have to finally get back at them for what they did…" said Harry, his voice tightening.

Hermione stared at Harry, surprise etched on her face. "Oh my, Harry, well they had to show up sometime, but what does this have to do with Oliver?"

"He told me I shouldn't have accepted… that I was just in it to play the hero again. He said that I didn't care about our relationship..." Harry whispered, putting his hands to his face. "But Hermione, I do care about him, how could I not? And it just hurt that he would accuse me of doing this for fame."

Hermione stayed silent; she knew that Oliver could never and would never be able to understand Harry. She was surprised their relationship had lasted so long, but now, Harry would just have to deal without Oliver and continue his life. 'In fact, it might actually be better for Harry, now that Oliver's out of the picture,' she contemplated.

"Harry, go ahead and go to the United States. Maybe when he cools down and you come back, you might be able to patch things up," she said with a consoling smile.

"You think so Hermione?" asked Harry, finally lifting his hands, hope radiating from his eyes.

Hermione hesitated but said, "I'm sure Harry, I'm sure."

The next day Harry was at the airport by mid morning. His flight was leaving at 11 a.m. and he would be in America by evening.

Ron had been informed of everything that had happened by Hermione, and he couldn't help but feel a bit glad that Oliver and Harry had broken up.

Hermione and Ron had offered Harry their home for the night, and Harry had readily accepted to stay. They ended up staying up late, reminiscing about old times, of the old adventures they had and of the many trials their friendship had gone through.

"I wish I could go with you," muttered Ron as Harry got ready to get on the plane, "like old times."

"I wish so too," said Harry, putting down his suitcase to say goodbye, "but you two have duties now. You, Ron, have to be at the ministry tomorrow and ready for anything."

"Yes, but I still wish we could have gone with you, mate," Ron said.

"I'll be fine, don't worry," said Harry.

"I'm going to miss you, Harry," said Ron, slapping him on the back. "Take care, mate."

"Goodbye, Harry, and be careful," said Hermione, giving him a great big hug. "Don't fret yourself about Oliver. Go meet some new people. You never know who you might meet," Hermione said, winking at Harry.

"Thanks guys, I'll miss you both too," Harry said, picking up his suitcase and heading towards the departure site for his flight.

As he gave the attendant his ticket, he turned back to give a last glance at Ron and Hermione. He noticed that both of them were holding hands, noticed the closeness and the smiles that showed their love for one another, and only hoped that one day he could have somebody that would deeply care for him and love him as much as Hermione and Ron seemed to love each other. With a last wave to his friends, he stepped into his flight without looking back.

Harry got to his seat in the plane and put on the headphones the flight attendant had offered him. He sat back, listening to the music that was playing, and drifted off to sleep.

He awoke about 7 hours later to find that the plane was arriving. A few minutes later, he was off the plane with his suitcase in hand, looking around for either Mr. Williams or Mr. Bradford.

Time slowly went by and Harry was about to mutter a few curse words of annoyance when a young man about his height and around Harry's age approached him. He had short spiky brown hair, some of which fell over his forehead, covering parts of his mesmerizing hazel eyes. He was an attractive, rather slim young man that carried himself in what seemed a confident stride. Something about him reminded Harry of Oliver, but also someone else he couldn't quite place.

"Are you Harry Potter?" he asked, looking Harry up and down with an approving glance.

"Err…yes, and you are?" he said, slightly uncomfortable under the stranger's penetrating gaze.

"I'm Alex, an auror here in the U.S. They sent me to show you around and get you settled in," he said with a wide smile that seemed approachable and inviting. "I heard about your apparating problem, so I have a cab waiting for us outside," he said, beginning to walk towards the exit.

Harry, not wanting to get lost among the crowd, quickly followed Alex. As he walked behind Alex, he couldn't help but stare at him, feeling curiosity as well as something else he couldn't identify towards this young man.

Harry stopped his musings at the sound of Alex yelling loudly. "Where's the cab! That damned cab left and I had already paid him ahead of time! I should hex that bastard." They got looks from the people around them as Alex tried desperately to call another cab.

"Harry, don't you ever trust cabbies in this city. That's lesson number one for you."

"Lesson one? I wasn't aware that you would be teaching me anything Alex," Harry said, rather amused.

"Harry, there are many, many things I can teach you," Alex said, still trying to get a cab.

Harry, completely oblivious to what Alex had suggested, just laughed at Alex's fruitless attempts to call a cab. Tired and craving sleep, he stood by the curve and called for a cab, amazed when one actually pulled up in front of him.

"Wow, Harry, how'd you do that?" Alex exclaimed appraisingly. "I can never get one! It's like they don't trust me or something."

Harry and Alex finally settled into the cab. Alex gave the driver directions and they were off. Harry tried to ignore Alex's ramble about the city and instead tried to focus on the view outside. He had always liked the night life and seeing the buildings and all the lights winking mischievously at him made him smile. He was sure he was going to like it here.

After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at an impressive apartment complex. Getting out and paying the cabbie, Alex directed his attention towards Harry.

"I also live here. We thought it would be best if you had someone close to you in case you needed something," said Alex as they got into the elevator. Alex pressed the number '7' before he began talking again. "We live on the seventh floor. Your apartment number is 732 and mine's 735, right across the hall from you. Here's your key," he said giving one lone key to Harry.

They waited a few moments in silence and finally got out onto their floor. Before Harry even got to his apartment door, Alex had placed his arm over Harry's shoulders and invited him over for a drink. "Just leave your stuff and come by to my apartment for a drink," he said over-invitingly.

Harry felt really tired and was in no mood to have a drink, but Alex had taken the trouble to go pick him up at the airport and had been nice to him, so the least he could do was say yes. Ten minutes later, after dropping off his suitcases and catching an infinitely small glimpse of the entrance to his apartment, he found himself in Alex's apartment. It was very spacious and tastily decorated. The room screamed "wealth" to him. There was a huge living room with several muggle appliances and a comfortable black leather couch in the center. Vibrant reds and yellows met his eyes, along with the occasional glimpse of black and silver. The rooms had all been decorated in the 'modern' theme, and Harry just stared at the grandiose looking room. He did a double take when Alex, standing behind a full bar, asked what he'd prefer to drink.

"Vodka will be fine, Alex."

"Good choice, Harry. Coming right away."

Alex, at the bar, began mixing their drinks together, placing them in elegant cups before returning to the living room and sitting next to Harry on the couch. He handed Harry his drink and while they drank, Alex began to talk, often asking Harry personal questions pertaining to his life back in England. Harry, though, was soon too tired to continue and all he wanted to do was lie down and sleep, so he downed the drink in one go.

"Thanks Alex. I should go now," he said, yawning and standing up off the couch at the same time. He handed his glass over to Alex before heading towards the door. "At what time should I be ready to go to the meeting?"

Alex, trying to hide his disappointment at Harry leaving so quickly, smiled, following Harry to the door, and said, "Around 8, Harry. I'll go knock on your door to make sure you're ready and see you out."

Harry nodded in response as Alex's door closed behind him and walked towards his apartment door. "Bloody hell… where'd I leave that damn key…" he muttered, already half asleep as he searched for the key.

Finally, Harry stood inside his apartment and, with a great sigh, looked around. His apartment was small compared to Alex's, but looked very comfortable. The lights softly glowed from the living room, and he was glad to know the apartment had all the commodities he could need. The apartment consisted of neutral shades and gave off a 'bookish, coffee-house' appearance.

Dropping everything, he headed towards his bedroom. A grand bed stood in its center with many blue pillows scattered about. The room consisted of many different shades of blue, creating a very soothing environment, in Harry's opinion.

He took off his clothes, all except his boxers, and got on the bed, promptly falling asleep.

As night drew on, he began shifting in his sleep, plagued by the cold, indifferent stare of Lucius in his dreams. He also saw Sirius, once more, falling through the veil continuously and felt Lestrange's laughter resonating through his mind. Soon, the setting changed, and now he was in front of a furious Oliver with a furious stare directed towards him, reproaching him for leaving him and accusing him of no longer caring about their relationship. Oliver though, soon disappeared and in his place stood the only soothing part of his dream, a pair of silver eyes that glowed in the darkness, full of emotion that seemed to penetrate right through Harry and which Harry seemed to feel too.

Morning soon came and Alex stood outside of Harry's door, knocking and knocking, continuously looking at his watch which now read '7:50 a.m.', but getting no response. He decided to enter the apartment, otherwise they would be very late, and there would likely be hell to pay if that happened.

"Aloha Mora," he muttered, drawing out his wand after making sure no one could see him and casting the spell on Harry's door. He gently pushed open the door and saw Harry's suitcase in the living room, untouched.

'I guess he was too tired to even unpack,' he thought as he continued looking around the apartment for Harry.

He walked into the bedroom and found clothes scattered around and also, to his pleasure, a semi-nude Harry sound asleep amidst a mess of blue pillows.

Alex couldn't help but stare at Harry's well-developed body as he lay there. His eyes freely roamed every part of Harry he could see, from his handsome boyish face, down to his muscular chest, and secretly wishing all articles of clothing off Harry's body.

Alex was too busy scanning Harry to notice him stirring and the next time he looked up he met a pair of emerald eyes, shining fully without their usual glasses.

"Hello, Harry," Alex said hoarsely, trying to gain his composure again and trying not to think of a certain part of his anatomy that had responded to Harry.

"Hello… Alex," Harry mumbled, still half sleep and reaching towards the countertop for his glasses.

Harry felt Alex's stare on him the whole time and shifted uncomfortably, wondering why he was being stared at.

As soon as he had put his glasses on though, he noticed Alex's stare was directed at something other than his face and, looking down, remembered he was only in his boxers.

Self-conscious, Harry began blushing and excusing himself, grabbed his suitcase, and stepped into the restroom.

"I'll…uh…be right out, I'm just going to take a quick shower," he said, his voice muffled by the door.

Alex, though, stood as if in a trance. The image of Harry's body would not leave his mind, and he mumbled a response, his mind still on what had just occurred.

'Had Harry blushed? Had he really blushed?' Alex thought, 'Most men would have smiled or been disgusted but Harry had blushed,' Alex contemplated, loving the reaction Harry had just shown and realizing that he wanted to see that body again soon, preferably under him. 'He's a shy fellow, but I'm sure a few nights out and he'll open up,' Alex thought hopefully, his lust growing by the moment.

Harry, meanwhile, stood in the shower, letting the hot water rinse his body. What had happened out there? Was Alex's staring a sign of attraction towards him? He couldn't let that happen, he still had feelings for Oliver. He just didn't know if he should tell Alex that he wasn't interested. He had been really nice to Harry and, after all, Hermione had suggested he try to meet other people. Although that was not an excuse for not telling Alex he wasn't particularly interested in him, he knew something else was stopping him. He had felt chills go down his spine as Alex had stared at him so openly and had felt an odd feeling sweep through him at the same time.

Finishing his shower, he quickly got dressed and went out into his room. Alex now sat lazily in a cat-like stretch that looked very familiar on the couch as he waited for him. "Harry, it's already 8:10. We have to leave now. The meeting starts in 20 minutes and we're already going to be late," Alex said, getting up from the couch as soon as Harry had stepped into the room.

Cursing his bad luck on always being late, he grabbed his wand, key, and wallet and left the apartment with Alex following closely behind.

"It's no use trying to apparate, let's just take a cab," said Alex, signaling a cab to take them to the American office.

"That's fine, let's just go," replied Harry.

After 30 minutes of traffic, crabby cab drivers, and endless insults, they stood in front of a large white building.

"Alex, its 8:40! We're late!"

"Damn! Come on, Harry, the meeting room isn't far from here."

Taking on a run and receiving disapproving and curious stares from the passerby's, they finally stood in front of a double door. Alex threw open the door and around 10 people turned to stare at him.

"Sorry were late, horrid traffic you know," he apologized to Mr. Bradford.

"Thankfully, you two have finally arrived and we can begin the meeting that seems to have been delayed about twenty minutes now. Take your seats, and Mr. Potter, if you will, take the seat to my right as I have yet to introduce you," said Mr. Bradford, standing in the front of the room, in a monotone voice slightly touched with irritation.

Harry stepped through the door and scanned the room he had just entered, taking the seat that had been indicated to him by Mr. Bradford while Alex took the seat right next to him.

Two dazzling silver eyes were transfixed on him, wide with shock. Harry, noticing that someone was staring at him, turned to his right and found his emerald eyes meeting the dazzling silver ones. He found himself almost gasping aloud, meeting the shocked expression with his own shocked one, but stayed rooted to his spot, unable to neither move nor make a sound.

A/N: AHHHH isn't Alex a perv! Draco has finally appeared, yay, throws confetti Thanks to those of you that reviewed! And those that haven't reviewed, what are you waiting for? Hit the review button! Please!