"He watches you all the time, it's like being in Sixth Year, honestly," said Hermione one day at lunch.

"Keep your voice down," he hissed. "And don't be ridiculous."

"It's true mate," said Ron, chewing on his pasty. "You should say something."

Harry cut up his fried egg. "I don't know what you mean."

"Well, do you like him back?" asked Hermione.

Harry's ears turned pink. "I have no idea what you're talking about." At that moment, Percy was walking by. "Hey! I haven't seen you in ages. How's it going?"

He thunked his tray down at their table. "Extraordinarily busy, Harry, extraordinarily busy." Percy nodded to Hermione and Ron. "Hello all. I can't stay for long; I'm being depended upon to finish an urgent report for the Minister."

"That's a shame," said Ron. Hermione elbowed him.

"Are you coming to lunch on Saturday?" she asked.

He zoned out for the rest of the conversation.

When he got up to his cubicle half an hour later, he covered a periwinkle with a stack of paperwork before Ron spotted it. The remainder of the afternoon passed uneventfully.

Magical Maintenance had arranged for a blizzard to storm the windows, and he traced idle patterns in the condensation whilst waiting for the lift.

Somehow, he ended up alone in it with Malfoy.

"Take me home with you."

He wanted to be angry, but he was mesmerised. It was like looking into the sun. "You don't just get to decide…you ignore me…" He hated how he fumbled over his words around Draco. "What about Astoria?"

"What about 'Ben'?" Draco spat.

"What?"

The cool voice rang out, "Level Three, Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, including the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, Obliviator Headquarters and Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee." The grilles clanged open, and three witches came in, who were all reading identical scrolls of parchment that trailed on the ground.

He was squeezed up against Draco, who folded his arms and stared resolutely ahead. Harry swallowed. "…The mission was a failure, the…briefing was inadequate." Draco fixed his gaze down on him. "Expectations weren't properly managed. Lessons were learned."

"I see," he said softly. "Will there be a full debrief?"

"Level Four, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating Beast, Being and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liaison Office and Pest Advisory Bureau."

"Yes," said Harry. The golden grilles slid open.

"Harry!" called a familiar voice.

He stood up on tiptoes to peer over the crowd. "Hullo, Bill."

"See you at lunch on Saturday?" Spotting Malfoy, he waved at him and added, "you're welcome to join us, too."

Draco composed himself. "That is very gracious of you."

"I'll owl you both," Bill called.

'Both?' Malfoy mouthed at him. He just shrugged his shoulders. "Many thanks," Draco called out to Bill.

At the next level, yet more people crammed in. Somehow, he was leaning into Draco, who did not complain. Draco murmured into his ear, "my assignment was not unlike yours. You must apply lessons learned to this situation. That's what good Aurors do—learn from their mistakes, and share the results moving forward."

Harry swallowed. "Right."

They were finally at the Atrium and piled out. "I trust you are coming to the MLE party on Friday. It's Muggle-themed, so naturally I will need to come by and help you dress."

"I was raised by Muggles!"

"Not very well." He couldn't argue with that. "I've taken the liberty of sending ahead for your measurements."

He tugged Draco into an alcove. "You don't own me. You don't control me."

"No," whispered Draco. "Where would the fun be in that?" His gaze flickered down to his lips. "I'll come by at seven."