Chapter 7

"Nice try, blondie. Checkmate."

"Bollocks," Draco sighed, sitting back in his chair and regarding the chessboard in front of him. "I didn't see that coming."

"Hence why I won," Ron said with a grin. "Still, you gave me a good game, better than any of this lot are capable of anyway," he added, gesturing at the others, who were all dotted around the library in Grimmauld, waiting for the Order members to arrive.

"Hey, I'm not too bad," Bill protested, looking up from the book he'd had his nose in all morning.

"Still never beaten me though, have you?" Ron replied smugly.

"I don't know where you get it from, you're an idiot," Bill teased and Draco smiled, getting used to the good-natured sniping between the Weasley siblings.

Truth be told, he was actually starting to enjoy it. He liked to listen to them argue and tease, like to experience a taste of the family life he had never had for himself. He would never tell them, of course, he had a persona to maintain after all, but spending time with them was a strange sort of tonic.

"Don't listen to him," Hermione said, perching on the arm of Ron's chair and sliding an arm around his shoulders. "I think you're a genius."

She leant down to kiss him and over in the corner Draco saw Harry roll his eyes. He knew the boy didn't mean it nastily, but he also knew that Harry was getting a little fed up of feeling like a third wheel. Ron and Hermione were a few months into a relationship, which looked to be turning serious, and Harry was feeling left behind as well as left out.

Of course, the fact that Harry was developing ever-more confusing feelings for Snape wasn't helping matters. Draco wasn't sure if Harry was conscious of it or not; the boy wasn't exactly in touch with his feelings and he was more capable of burying his head in the sand than anyone Draco knew. Draco could see it though, and he worried that Harry was losing his heart to a man who didn't possess one of his own.

"How goes life in the pub? Any brawls yet?" Ron asked, looking gleeful at the prospect.

"Several near misses," Draco said, rolling his eyes. "That place is the biggest dive I've never known. There are places in Knockturn Alley with better reputations."

"And what would you know about Knockturn Alley?" Bill asked, and Draco fluttered his eyelashes at him.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Draco asked sweetly.

"I'm fairly certain I wouldn't," Ron said, wrinkling his nose in distaste.

"I would," Ginny said with a grin.

"Don't let Mum hear you say that," Ron said, and Ginny stuck her tongue out at him.

"Sounds like the others are here," Harry said, glancing towards the door. "We'd best get down and join them."

They cleared up the things in the library and then made their way downstairs to the kitchen, greeting the others. Draco allowed himself to be swept up into a hug by Molly, smiling as she pulled back and told him that she was thrilled to see him looking so well. It was said with such motherly affection that Draco couldn't help but let her hug him again.

"I think you're on your way to becoming her favourite," Bill said as Draco took his usual seat next to the man.

"Jealous?"

"Insanely."

Draco watched as, over in the corner, Harry approached Snape. He listened as Harry said, "Nice to see you, Professor."

"You saw me on Monday, Potter," Snape replied in a bored drawl.

"No, I know," Harry said, turning red. "I just meant…never mind. I…um…I finished the book you lent me. Would you like it back?"

"Bring it to the next session," Snape said dismissively.

"Ok," Harry nodded. "I was thinking…about the next session, maybe – "

"Potter, leave the thinking to me. You don't exactly have a glowing track record in that area," Snape said before sweeping past Harry without another word, leaving the boy standing there looking after him with a defeated expression.

"Stop scowling at Snape," Bill said gently beside Draco.

"I can't stand the way he treats Harry. He just dismisses him like he doesn't matter. And Harry…he doesn't take crap from anyone and yet he just lets Snape walk all over him. I hate it."

"It's Harry's business. Don't get in the middle of it," Bill advised.

"I just don't like seeing him being treated that way. He's a great guy, he could have anyone he wanted and yet he wastes his time pining away for a git like that."

"I know, but it's Harry's life, and whatever your opinion, it won't change the way he feels. Still, it's nice to see that you care."

"Of course I care, Harry's my friend," Draco said, then realised exactly what he had confessed and let his cheeks colour. "I mean…"

"You said what you meant, Draco," Bill said with a smile. "It's nice that you think of him that way."

Draco was spared having to think of a reply by Dumbledore calling for the meeting to start. Everyone quietened down and gave their attention to the man, who immediately handed the floor to Kingsley.

There had been a number of sightings of key players, and, with that in mind, Kingsley wanted to send out a few teams for reconnaissance. Draco nearly fell off his chair when he learnt that not only was he to be included in this operation but that he was to be partnered with Bill.

The man grinned at him as their names were read out and Draco tried not to feel too giddy at the prospect of working alongside him. He listened as Kingsley outlined their assignment, trying not to feel too nervous about it. They were to go to the magical quarter of Bath and see if they could track down a couple of low-ranking Death Eaters who had been moving up in the world.

Kingsley's intelligence reported that they were after something, but what it was was unclear. Draco and Bill were not to engage, unless they were in danger, and were to gather as much information as they could while tracking them.

It was an important job, and Draco felt the weight of it settle on his shoulders as he listened to the brief. It was the first assignment he had been given as an Order member though, and he felt that he'd finally been given an opportunity to do some good rather than rattling around Grimmauld day after day.

He didn't know what twist of fate had landed him as Bill's partner, but he was insanely grateful for it. He trusted Bill and he knew he would be safe with him. Of course, the fact that it meant yet more time alone with the man was a wonderful added bonus.

He knew it was a little childish, but he couldn't help but think of what might happen between them under these unusual new circumstances. He was aware that the flirting between them had stepped up a notch, but he wasn't entirely sure what that meant.

There was every chance that Bill wasn't taking the flirting seriously. Perhaps he was just one of those people to whom flirting came naturally, someone who flirted with everyone. It didn't seem like Bill's style though; he was too straight-forward a person to play those kind of games. Draco knew how he felt, but deciphering Bill proved somewhat trickier. Still, neither of them was going anywhere; there was time enough to figure things out.

The meeting drew to a close and several of the members took their leave almost immediately, but the Weasleys, Tonks and Lupin hung on. Draco watched as Harry watched Snape go, and was relieved that the boy didn't try to stop him. He knew it was none of his business, but he hoped that Harry managed to get over his crush sooner rather than later. He couldn't help but feel that Harry's feelings for Snape would somehow end in disaster.

Shaking his head, he shifted his attention from Harry to the corner of the kitchen where Tonks were standing talking to Lupin and Charlie. He hadn't really spoken to Tonks since she had introduced herself at the first meeting, but they had exchanged friendly greetings at subsequent ones. He had continued to bear in mind what she had said about being family, and he felt that he was finally ready to take a leap and see what that might mean. Taking a deep breath, he approached her.

Waiting for a lull in the conversation they were having, Draco cleared his throat and said, "A few of the others are staying here for a takeaway. You're welcome to join us if you like. You too, Charlie, and you, Professor Lupin."

Lupin smiled and said, "I haven't been a professor in quite some time, Draco. Please call me Remus."

"Why aren't you cooking for us?" Charlie asked. "Bill says you're shaping up to be a decent chef."

Draco snorted and said, "If you think I'm cooking for over ten people, most of them Weasleys, you must be mad."

Charlie grinned and Tonks said, "That's the spirit. Don't let this lot walk all over you."

"I don't intend to."

Happy chaos descended in the kitchen as the menus were spread over the table and people decided what they wanted. Unused to so much noise and mayhem, Draco insisted on trying to maintain some kind of order and summoned paper and a pen to write down everyone's choices. He was teased mercilessly by Charlie and Ron who insisted that he was clearly channelling Hermione, and perhaps the two had been separated at birth.

Harry and Draco, with his meticulous list, were dispatched to go and get the food, as nothing muggle would be able to be delivered to the house. Laying it all out on the table created further chaos, and Draco was forced to make it very clear that his food was his own and that he had no intention of sharing it with anyone. This then led to a fierce debate about the pros and cons of sharing food, and it turned out that everyone came down very firmly on one side or the other.

"But it's my food," Tonks said, sitting next to Draco on the living room floor. "I ordered it because it's what I wanted."

"Exactly," Draco said around a mouthful of fried rice.

"Oh this is such an only child thing!" Ron said. "Hermione's so weird about her food too."

"I don't see what's weird about wanting people to keep their hands off your food!" Hermione protested.

"Agreed," Bill said. "See, not an only child thing. Although I suppose it could be an oldest child thing. I spent so many mealtimes trying to keep Ron and the twins away from my food."

"Someone else's food always tastes better," Ron said, and Draco rolled his eyes.

"You'd shared food with Voldemort if you were hungry enough," he said, and Ron grinned at him.

"Well I'm sharing a meal with you, aren't I?" he asked, and, rather than taking offence at his words as he might have done a few months ago, Draco simply chucked a prawn cracker at him.

"More beer," said Charlie, appearing from the kitchen with several bottles floating in front of him. Everyone grabbed one out of the air and Draco felt a little surge of satisfaction that he had been able to pay for the beer out of his own money.

"So," said Tonks, "you have your first assignment for the Order. How does that feel?"

Draco looked over to Bill, who raised his eyebrows at him. "It feels good to finally be able to contribute in some way. I've felt a bit useless holed up in here."

Harry made a noise of disgust and said, "Tell me about it. Nothing like inaction to make a person feel like a waste of space."

Draco and Bill exchanged a glance, both having been recipients to this complaint several times over. Having been so, Draco had tried to talk him out of such feelings several times, to no avail, and he wasn't about to try again now. He didn't have to anyway, Hermione stepped into the breech, saying,

"You're not a waste of space, Harry."

"Yeah right."

"You're not," she insisted. "You're training with Snape, you're – "

"Yeah, and we all know how well that's going. He thinks I'm a moron."

"He's the moron," Ron said, and Draco privately agreed. "He treats you like shit."

"He's pushing me," Harry said, and Draco resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the boy's stubborn insistence to defend Snape. No matter what anyone said, Harry was so blinkered where the man was concerned and it irritated Draco no end.

"He'll push you into an early grave if you're not careful," Ron warned. "He's too hard on you."

"He has to be, I have to be ready."

"Well then how can you say you're not doing anything useful?" Hermione asked calmly, and Draco saw Harry's anger deflate slightly. "You're doing the most important thing, Harry," she continued, "and you should never forget that."

It wouldn't be the last of it, Draco knew. Harry had been going around in those particular circles for some time and Draco was well aware that they would be back having the same conversation in a week's time. Fortunately, it seemed that Harry was content to let it rest for the time being, and the topic switched to the more neutral one of the latest ministerial incumbents.

As Hermione and Lupin led a very academic-sounding debate, Tonks helped herself to another bottle of beer and said to Draco, "You seem to be very well-settled in here."

Draco shrugged and said, "In a strange way it's starting to feel like home."

"That's a good thing."

"Yes and no," Draco replied, his tongue loosened by the couple of beers he had had. "Perhaps adjusting would have been harder if I'd had more to leave behind."

Tonks nodded, dislodging tendrils of purple hair from the messy ponytail it had been scrunched into. "That makes sense. I mean…I never knew your parents personally, but…I heard things."

"What's your mother like?" Draco asked abruptly, suddenly feeling a desire to know.

Tonks smiled and it creased her eyes and wrinkled her nose slightly. "She's the best. She's kind and funny but she can be one tough cow when she needs to be. She's smart and resourceful; she's the first person I'd go to if I needed help."

"She sounds like a great woman," Draco said, smiling at Tonks' enthusiasm.

"She is," Tonks agreed. "She's my best friend, I tell her everything."

"Must be nice."

"She'd love to meet you," Tonks said gently. "She always knew, of course, that she had a nephew, but…well…you know."

Draco nodded and said, "I'd like to meet her too. Does she…does she look like my mother?" he asked hesitantly.

"No," Tonks said, shaking her messy head. "Actually, she looks a lot like Bellatrix."

"I don't know if that's worse."

Tonks laughed and said, "I know what my mother would say."

"Your…your dad's a muggle, isn't he?"

"Hence why Mum was disinherited," Tonks confirmed.

Draco snorted and said, "I know what that feels like." His eyes widened as he realised what he had confessed, and he glanced around the room to make sure no one else had heard.

"I won't tell anyone," Tonks said as he looked back to her.

"Only Molly knows so far," Draco said quietly. "I just can't bring myself to tell the others yet."

"I'm not saying this to be unkind, but it's not the end of the world. You'll get by without the Malfoy name and fortune behind you; you've already proved that you can survive on your own. Rejection always stings though, that will take some time to get used to."

"I think I've been getting used to that for longer than I realised."

"Forgive me for sounding trite, it's a Hufflepuff's prerogative you know, but family comes in lots of different forms. Just ask Harry," she said, nodding in the boy's direction.

Draco looked over to where Harry was currently engaged in an arm wrestle with Ron, Ginny and Hermione cheering them both on. Harry had had even less of a family life than he had, but he had found people to love and who would love him in return. Draco still felt that he had a long way to go before he found a place he truly belonged.

He and Tonks continued to talk for the rest of the evening, and Draco found her engaging and just a little bit insane. She liked to lurch from topic to topic without much in the way of a segue, and thoughts tumbled from her mouth with alarming alacrity.

She was a little chaotic and Draco could see how this might lead people to overlook her obvious intelligence. People might have thought that she said what she thought without consideration or filter, but Draco could see that there was a careful selection to her words that he was sure others missed. She may well have been a Hufflepuff, but she definitely possessed traits that could have landed her in Slytherin.

"It was nice to see you talking to Tonks," Bill said to him as they tidied up the living room after everyone had left.

"She's good fun," Draco said, fulling a face at the mess Ron had left. "She said she'd try and stop by every now and again."

"It'll be good for you to spend time with her. It might…give you a sense of family."

"Bill," Draco said with a smile, "I already had that."

"Yeah?" Bill asked with a lopsided smile.

"Yeah," Draco said slyly, "you said it yourself – I'm your mum's favourite. Too bad she likes me better than you."

He sashayed out of the room but wasn't quick enough to miss the well-timed swat Bill aimed at his backside.

A week later and he and Bill were preparing to head to Bath on their assignment. Unsure how long they were going to be there for, Draco packed a few changes of clothes and some basic toiletries in his shrunken luggage. He had never packed so lightly in his life.

Downstairs Bill was waiting for him in the kitchen, an empty bottle on the table.

"Is that the portkey or have you just started early today?" Draco asked.

"Cheeky," Bill said with a smile. "Come here than and give me your hand."

"You don't have to hold hands for a portkey," Draco countered.

"It's a special one."

Bill grinned and Draco shook his head with a smile, saying, "Ah one of those 'special' ones. Perhaps we should take further precautions."

He slid an arm around Bill's waist and pulled himself into the man's hold. He was blushing, and he knew it, but Bill smiled at him conspiratorially and he couldn't stop himself from returning it.

"Ready for our assignment, Mr Malfoy?" Bill asked.

"As I'll ever be. Promise to take care of me?"

Bill raised an eyebrow and said, "You're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. I'm not averse to watching your back though."

"Ditto," Draco said with a smirk.

Bill reached out and closed his hand around the portkey then moments later they were both transported to a dank alleyway.

"Well, isn't this spiffy?" Draco said, wrinkling his nose at the smell. "I thought Bath was classy."

"One alley's very much like another."

"Where are we meant to go?"

"Intelligence says the Death Eaters are staying in a pub called The Trusty Beggar. It's not exactly five-star so I doubt we'll have a problem getting a room."

Draco gave an affected sigh and said, "I miss the days when I could stay in the finest suites in the most expensive hotels."

"Well, when you're a Healer at the top of your field you can take me away for a fancy weekend."

Feeling giddy at the prospect of Bill still being around when he was a qualified Healer, Draco merely gave him what he hoped was an enigmatic smile and said, "For now we'll have to make do with whatever dump awaits us. Lead the way."

Dressed in low-key muggle clothing, they blended into the streets of Bath without issue. Draco had always thought that he would detest muggle clothes, that he would miss robes, but he found that muggle clothes suited him and that he enjoyed wearing them. Also, it had to be said, seeing Bill in dark, form-fitting jeans, was akin to a religious experience.

They found the pub, which was as hideous as Draco had expected it to be. Still, it wasn't as bad as the place Draco worked in, and he had to take a minute to appreciate how much his life had changed that that was his basis for comparison.

They secured a twin room, and Draco allowed himself a moment's regret that they hadn't ended up having to share a double. He supposed that sort of thing only happened in fiction.

They had arrived early evening and decided that the best thing to do would be to have a meal in the pub's restaurant and hope that their targets had decided to do the same. Ideally, they wanted to listen in on any conversations that might take place and follow them should a need arise.

"Meat shouldn't be this colour," Draco said, poking at his pork chop with his fork.

"Neither should mash have this many lumps," Bill replied, looking very much as though he might be sick. "I'd love to know the hygiene rating of this place."

Giving up on the pork, Draco put his cutlery to one side and said, "You should see the kitchen at my place, even the rats have moved out."

"I'm not sorry I don't visit that place more often."

"Coward. You could give your immune system a little boost."

"You're actually enjoying working there, aren't you?" Bill asked with a knowing smile.

Draco shrugged, knowing he'd been caught out, and said, "It's toughened me up, made me realise that…I can do more than I thought I could. I'm not just the snotty rich kid everyone always thought I was…I can survive on my own."

"Never doubted it for a second."

Draco was trying to think of a suitable rejoinder when Bill conspicuously motioned to the door. Looking over, Draco saw that their targets had entered and had headed over to the bar. He saw Bill slip a hand into his inside pocket, touching his wand, then a moment later the Death Eaters' speech was amplified.

"Nice wordless magic," Draco said, impressed.

"One day I'll aim for wandless, but for now I'll settle."

They listened while the two men talked, whilst trying to maintain a cover conversation of their own. Nothing of much interest was said for a while, the conversation mundane and ever-so-slightly dull. Draco was beginning to think that they'd been misinformed about who to trail when of the men said,

"We need to go. Time to meet with the contact."

The men headed for the door and, after giving it a minute or two, Draco and Bill followed. Keeping several paces behind, they followed them down a couple of streets, listening as they continued to speak in hushed tones.

"I think they've spotted us," Draco whispered as one of the men looked over his shoulder for a second time.

"We're just a couple on holiday in Bath, taking in the sights," Bill said, slipping his hand into Draco's and pulling himself closer.

"If only," Draco said wryly.

They followed the men into a bar that was even seedier than the pub they were staying in. Draco didn't need to be paying attention to see the drug that was taking place in the corner, or the various prostitutes touting for custom.

"Would two blokes on holiday really come in here?" Draco asked dubiously.

"Maybe we fancy a taste of the forbidden?"

Draco scoffed and said, "If I'm ever in a relationship that gets to that point, I know it's doomed."

"Duly noted," said Bill with a smirk.

"Where is she?" they heard one of the men say.

"Not here, there's another room," the other one answered with a sly smile. "Come on, this way."

They slunk off and Bill and Draco followed, finding themselves in a room that was dark and dank, full of people strung out on God knew what, doing all manner of things they wouldn't do in the light of day. Draco was about to make as sarcastic a comment as he could muster, when the two men turned and clocked him and Bill standing there.

"Oh shit," he whispered. "We've been spotted."

Thinking on his feet, Draco grabbed a handful of Bill's shirt and pulled himself up against the man's body as he met him in a kiss. He backed himself up against the nearest wall, taking Bill along with him. He wound his arms around Bill's neck as he felt Bill's hands settle firmly on his hips.

It was, of course, merely for cover, but that didn't mean that Draco couldn't enjoy it, and enjoy it he did. Bill was an exquisite kisser, not that Draco had ever doubted he would be, and, as the man insinuated his tongue in his mouth, Draco melted into him.

He felt himself harden and he pushed himself shamelessly against Bill's leg. If this was meant to be convincing, Draco was damn well going to put on a show. He groaned as Bill's lips moved to his throat while the man's hand began to rove over his torso.

"Are they still watching?" Bill murmured against his skin.

"Who?" Draco whispered muzzily.

Bill chuckled and Draco said, "Oh…oh um…" He glanced over to the other side of the room and saw that the Death Eaters were no longer looking at them and had retreated to a darkened corner. "We're clear."

"Shame," Bill said, and Draco could feel the smile against his skin. Bill pulled back and said, "I suppose we'd better get after them."

Draco nodded and they extracted themselves from one another while Draco's cheeks flushed. He wasn't sure if he would ever be able to look the man in the eye ever again, but he couldn't deny that the experience had been a pleasant one. He privately hoped for another instance where they would have to employ such subterfuge.

They followed the men over to the corner they had disappeared into and found that they had slipped through a well-disguised door. Pressing themselves up against the wall, Bill and Draco watched as the Death Eaters approached a woman with scraggy grey hair and a wizened face.

"I know her," Bill whispered. "She was picked up by the Ministry a couple of years ago for trading on the black market."

"Looks like she's up to her old tricks," Draco replied quietly.

They watched as the woman handed one of the men a small packet and he, in turn, handed her a large coin purse. Draco carefully extracted his wand and cast a subtle amplification charm to hear their conversation.

"This is it?" one of the men asked.

"Just what you asked for," the woman replied.

"And will it work?"

"If you use it properly. Coupled with the incantation I gave you, this will make the Imperious curse look like child's play."

"Oh Merlin," Bill whispered. "I'll bet money she's just given them a Tekotateri Orb. This is bad, very bad."

"What should we do? We were told to observe, nothing else," Draco whispered back.

"We can't let them leave here with that thing. It's capable of producing an effect similar to mass hypnosis. Merlin only knows what they're planning to use it for, but it won't be for anything good."

"You think we should engage?" Draco asked, his stomach assaulted with nerves.

"I don't think we have a choice. We need to do it away from this place though, it's full of muggles."

Draco nodded and they made their way back through the hideous back room and through the bar. They walked out into the night and both drew their wands, casting disillusionment and warding charms, ready to pounce when the Death Eaters came out.

"You're an excellent duellist," Bill told Draco. "We can take these two."

"I hope you're right," Draco replied, feeling his mouth go dry.

He didn't have to worry further; within moments the men came out the door and Bill and Draco hit them with stunning hexes. It seemed, however, that the man had been ready for them, and they threw up shields before Draco could blink.

It all happened too quickly for Draco to properly process. Instincts took over and he cast spells and hexes without thinking about it. He was aware of Bill beside him, fighting fiercely, an impressive force who was giving as good as he got. Draco was distracted momentarily when Bill was hit by a nasty slicing hex across his shoulder, and, in the confusion, his wand was knocked from his hand.

Without thought, he charged at his attacker before the man had time to level another spell at him. With a strength he hadn't known he possessed, he took a swing at the man's jaw, knocking the man's head backwards. Deciding that to stop would be a decidedly bad thing, Draco took advantage of the man's surprise at a physical attack to land another blow, which stunned the man long enough for Draco to grab his wand from him and cast a very neat binding charm.

His attacker suitably dealt with, Draco turned his attention to Bill's. The man had Bill backed against the wall, his arm pressing against Bill's throat while Bill fought for release. Not having the time to try and find his wand, Draco grabbed a piece of stray brickwork from the ground and hit the man soundly on the side of his head.

He crumpled to the ground and Draco dropped the brick in shock, wondering vaguely if he'd managed to kill the bastard. He looked up at Bill and said shakily, "Are you ok?"

Bill nodded and said, "You?"

"Ask me tomorrow," Draco said, feeling overwhelmed by the rush of adrenaline. "Is he…did I…" he tried to ask, looking at the prone form on the ground.

Bill knelt down and Draco watched as he pressed a couple of fingers to the man's throat. Bill shook his head and said, "He's alive, you've just knocked him out."

Bill rose to his feet and pointed his wand at the man, thick ropes shooting into place and binding the man where he lay. He turned back to face Draco, and, to Draco's surprise, grinned at him.

"What?" Draco asked, feeling his heart thudding in his chest.

"You fought like a muggle," Bill said, still grinning. "I saw that right hook you landed. Pretty impressive."

"Yeah well…didn't have much choice," Draco replied, not willing to admit that he had surprised himself. He had had no idea that he would be quite handy with his fists and a small part of his brain was indulging in the gleeful thought that his father would have had a fit at the notion.

"Here," Bill said, retrieving Draco's wand from behind a bin. "At least you know you can hold your own without it."

"I'm not surrendering it just yet," Draco replied with a wry smile, the shock starting to subside somewhat. "What should we do about these two?" he asked, looking back at the bound men.

"I'll get a patronus to Kingsley, he can decide what to do with them."

Draco nodded, feeling his body start to shake a little as the adrenaline began to drain away. He had never experienced combat before and part of him was elated that he had conducted himself so well, but the shock of it all was a little much to take.

He felt Bill's hand settle on his shoulder and he looked up at the man. Bill offered him a gentle smile and Draco felt his own lip twitch in response.

"I'll tell you something," Bill said softly, "the next assignment I get, I'll be requesting you as a partner."

"Who says I want you?" Draco asked with a smirk.

Bill's hand moved a little so it rested gently at the base of Draco's neck, and Draco felt his body shiver slightly at the touch.

"Maybe I'm just hopeful," Bill replied before turning his attention back to the men. Raising his wand, he cast an impressive patronus that took the shimmering form of a falcon. Draco watched as Bill relayed his message to it and couldn't help but smile. Oh he wanted Bill alright, and it was getting harder and harder to hide the fact. If Draco was any judge of character, however, soon enough he wouldn't have to hide it.

AN: Sorry it's been so long since the last update, my lovelies. I was really, REALLY sick and I'm still not 100% to be honest. Last week I was away on holiday, which was lovely, but marred by bad weather and my health being really rubbish. I'm going to try and get the updates back on track but my mind's a little hazy at the moment so forgive me if normal service doesn't resume that speedily. Hope you're all well and I hope you enjoyed the chapter.