Harry was miserable, it had been two weeks since Blaise had sprung that date on him. Two weeks and three cancelled dates. All of them Harry's fault.

He hadn't meant to cancel so much. But there had been that sudden sting operation on some creature smugglers, then there was an anonymous tip that had led them to Dolohov, one of the few remaining holdouts from Voldemort's Death Eaters and the bastard that cursed Hermione in the Department of Mysteries.

The last one had been a few nights ago when Harry had taken a nasty curse to the chest from a serial rapist they had finally managed to track down. He had spent the night in St. Mungo's and even though they were able to reverse the curse, they couldn't heal it fully and had to wait for it to heal naturally. Harry hadn't told Blaise the reason why he couldn't make the date, only that he was sorry and would make it up to the dark-skinned man. The only response Harry had received to his letter was a short, five word response.

I can take a hint.

That had been three days ago and Blaise had not responded to another one of Harry's letters.

Seamus, Harry's right hand man and Deputy Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement, came in then, with the latest stack of paperwork. Harry sighed heavily. Seamus looked him up and down, "no offense, Harry, but you look like shite."

"Gee, thanks, Seamus," Harry said rolling his eyes.

"What's up?" The Irishman asked, sitting on the corner of Harry's desk. "Do we need to crack open the emergency firewhiskey?" He asked, jerking his head towards the large bottle enclosed in a glass case with an attached hammer and a sign stating:

"FOR USE IN THE CASE OF EMERGENCY OR JUST IN CASE"

"No, it's nothing," Harry muttered as he pulled the stack towards him.

"Clearly," Seamus replied, "whatever it is that's bothering you, you should just do something about it. You know, like you always do and then either it'll be fixed and you'll be right, or it won't and you'll be fucked, but you'll know, so you won't be miserable and mopey." Seamus told him.

Harry paused in his notes, about to retort when an idea formed in his mind. He looked up and grinned at Seamus, the Irishman started to look a little uneasy at the mad glint in Harry's eye. "You know what Shae? You're absolutely right. Tell Kingsley I'm taking a personal day." Harry stood and pulled his Auror robes over his head, leaving him dressed in snug jeans and a long sleeved jumper. Depositing them on his chair in a rumpled pile, he dragged a hand through his hair in an attempt to make it neater. Failing as always. "If he asks why," Harry continued, "tell him it was your idea and that you're in charge until I get back." He grabbed a handful of floor powder and disappeared to the sound of Seamus's indignant squawk.

Harry appeared in Blaise's restaurant, suddenly a little unsure of himself. What if Blaise didn't want to see him? What if he wasn't here? He didn't know where else to really look for the man. He walked into the restaurant part and found Blaise sitting with a pretty woman with his colouring, looking at her features, Harry guessed she must be one of Blaise's sisters. Paperwork was spread out over a large working table between them.

Blaise looked up when he heard Harry clear his throat, his eyes and expression hardened into a Slytherin's mask and gave nothing away.

"Erm, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt anything," Harry said awkwardly.

The woman looked up and her eyes lit with recognition, though not the usual kind Harry saw from the public. She smirked at Blaise before speaking, her voice musical and teasing, "Nonsense! You're not interrupting, I was just leaving in any case. Blaise, darling. I love you, and I'll see you Saturday for brunch."

"Gabriella!" Blaise hissed as she kissed his cheek.

"Ciao!" she called back to Blaise as she breezed across the room, when she passed Harry she whispered, "good luck, don't hurt him."

Harry blinked at her, slightly stunned as he took in the hard warning in her smiling eyes. He nodded and she returned the gesture before sweeping out the door towards the floo room. Harry turned back to Blaise who he saw was busy organising the papers in front of him into a neat pile. Harry stepped forward, "Blaise, I'm sor-,"

"If you're here to apologise, there's no need, Potter. I understood quite well from your letters. If that is all, I have rather a lot business to attend to."

Harry winced at the use of his last name, "Blaise, please, let me explain-"

"What is there to explain?" Blaise snarled, whirling to look at Harry. "You've cancelled any chance you had with me when you cancelled those dates. I will not be jerked around on a string at your whim! Once was enough!"

Harry was confused by the last statement, but Blaise's anger had sparked his own. "I had cases! I didn't mean to cancel! I didn't WANT to! It was lucky that I even bloody well remembered to send you an owl! Usually Emmanuella has to send my family missives to let them know when I won't be there!"

"So, what? I should feel flattered that you deigned to think of me?" Blaise snipped, despite feeling that exact way.

"Yes, no, I don't know! I haven't been able to STOP thinking about you!" Harry cried out. That drew Blaise up short and Harry took advantage of his sudden silence. "This is why I don't date, well it's part of the reason at least. I told you, I barely have time to shop, let alone date! I cancel on my godchildren more than I get to see them! I wanted to see you. I still want to see you! Even though it's extremely selfish of me, because I know it will mean more cancelled dates in the future. I know that it means I'll probably hurt you because of that, but I want you. More than I've wanted anything else. I left work today just so I could see you, so I could explain.. Blaise, please, I really am sorry."

Blaise was silent as Harry stood there biting his lip. He didn't know exactly what had come over him, but he wanted to make everything right between them. Wanted to be able to see Blaise again.

"What's the other reason?" Harry's brow furrowed in confusion and Blaise elaborated, "you said that not having the time to date was one reason, what's the other?"

"Oh, erm," Harry flushed, he looked down at his shoes, all of a sudden finding his laces very interesting, "I, there's never, really been anyone that I've felt attracted to, that's ever made me feel like I do when I'm with you," he mumbled.

Blaise stepped forward tentatively, "But you're attracted to me? You want me?" He asked his voice rough with emotion. Harry didn't know what to say so he just nodded, head still lowered bashfully.

Suddenly, his weren't the only shoes he could see, and he could feel the heat from Blaise's body in front of him. He swallowed and looked up, feeling very vulnerable at that moment. Blaise's eyes searched for something in Harry's face and he seemed to find it after a minute. "I thought that you might have regretted the other night, that you didn't want to pursue a relationship with me. I mean, you've never outed yourself, I thought that maybe, in the light of day, you had changed your mind."

Harry looked at Blaise and saw the shadow of hurt in his eyes, old pain, that Harry realised had nothing to do with him. He closed the little distance there was between them. "No, Blaise. I don't lie, or say things I don't mean. I haven't said anything about my sexuality to the press in the past, because frankly, it's none of their business. If, if you want us to be something. If you'll have me, I'll have no problem telling people though. I'm," he grinned wryly, "I'm a bit of a possessive bastard. I'd want people to know we're together. If that's what you want that is." He said, nerves suddenly returning as he put himself on the line.

Blaise's face lit up at Harry's declaration and he swooped down to capture Harry's lips in a frenzied kiss. Harry gasped at the sudden onslaught but pressed back just as eagerly. His hands going around Blaise's neck as he pulled him in closer. The kiss escalating as they brought their tongues into play. Blaise's hands were on Harry's back, as he guided the shorter man towards the table. Harry felt the table bump against his rear and Blaise's hands slid down to grip his thighs, hoisting him onto the higher surface so that their faces were on level. Harry parted his legs so that Blaise could stand between them, never once did they stop their frantic kissing.

Harry managed to pull back for just a second, gasping for breath as Blaise turned his mouth to suck marks onto Harry's neck. "So, I guess, does this mean? Are we?" He couldn't complete his sentences as Blaise's ministrations gave leave to his senses.

Blaise claimed his mouth again, tongue penetrating to stroke and slide against Harry's. He broke the kiss to speak, his lips moving against Harry's. "Boyfriends, paramours, lovers. Whatever you want to call it. I want it, I want you. Even if it means more cancelled dates. I don't care. So long as you want me too." Harry pressed their lips back together with a pleased moan. Blaise just as eager to taste him as he returned the sentiment.

Blaise's hands moved from Harry's thighs to slide up under his shirt, Harry jerked back and hissed as Blaise unknowingly touched the wound from the other night. Blaise pulled away concerned. "What is it?"

"Nothing, I just took a curse meant for a victim the other night, it's fine, Blaise." Harry moved to continue the kissing, but Blaise wasn't going to be distracted. He bent down and lifted Harry's shirt. He sucked in a breath when he saw the ugly wound.

"Why haven't you been to a Healer?" he asked, his eyes filled with worry and a hint of anger.

"I have been," Harry sighed, knowing he wasn't going to get away with not telling Blaise about it. "I was in Mungo's all night, Tuesday. They were able to stop the curse, but as soon as they applied healing magic, it would start again. They said once it's healed it won't be an issue, but that it will just have to heal naturally. I have a cream for it, to keep it from getting infected and stuff." He shrugged.

Blaise looked back at the wound, gently tracing along its, "Tuesday night?" he asked softly.

"Erm, yeah, it's why I couldn't make our last date." Harry told him. Blaise shut his eyes, a pained expression on his face. "Hey, what's with the look?" Harry asked him, putting a gentle hand on Blaise's cheek in concern.

"You were in St Mungo's, grievously hurt and I was sitting here, thinking, well, not very nice things, about what it meant that you were cancelling on me again. Coming to the wrong conclusions." He took a breath and continued, "I was involved with someone, a long time ago, and he, used me." Blaise spat. "As an experiment for his sexuality, as a convenient lay. I was too young and enamoured to see it for what it was at the time. It hurt me, a great deal more than I like to admit, when I figured it out. When I asked him why no-one knew we were a couple. He, laughed at me, he found it amusing that I had thought we were anything more than sex." Harry's face was stony as he listened to Blaise, though he never removed his hand from the darker man's face. "I promised myself I wouldn't let myself get into that position again and when you kept cancelling our dates, ones set in public places.." he trailed off, voice vulnerable as he looked at Harry.

Harry leant forward and pressed their lips together chastely, "I'm sorry," he murmured. "For what happened to you and for reminding you of that with my actions. For what it's worth, I'd like to gut the bastard who thought he could do that to you, he obviously doesn't realise what he's missing." The corner of Blaise's mouth lifted in a hint of a smile. "But," Harry grinned back, "his loss is my magnificent gain."

"Magnificent hey?" Blaise smirked, his usual confident facade back in place.

Harry smirked back at him, "I shouldn't need to stroke your ego, I'm sure you own a mirror. Though there are a few other things I can think of that back up my claim."

"Oh?"

Harry hummed, "your kissing technique for one," he teased, leaning forwards.

Blaise's smirk grew, "maybe I should show you a few other techniques."

"Maybe you should," Harry replied as their lips touched and their passion spiked again. Harry pulled Blaise down with him, so the taller man was bent over the table. Harry's back flat against the surface as their hands skated over each other. Harry had just started to slide one under Blaise's shirt when the table gave way under them.

They fell heavily on to the carpeted floor, parchments billowing around them. Harry wheezing slightly from where his breath had been knocked out of him. Blaise had managed to catch himself on his forearms, but Harry's own impact with the ground hadn't been softened.

"Merlin! Are you alright?" asked Blaise worriedly as he sat up, hovering over Harry.

"Fine, fine," Harry rasped lightly, as he pushed himself into a sitting position, "I've had a lot worse than a little fall, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Blaise replied, "never going to trust my sister's conjuration again, but fine."

"Good," Harry replied moving to straddle Blaise's lap. "Because if that's the case, and you don't actually have 'rather a lot of business to attend to' I'd like to take you out for dinner and then maybe a movie."

Blaise smiled at him, "mmm.. that does sound good, but don't you have to go back to work?"

Harry smirked, "nah, I'm taking a personal day. Left Seamus in charge and I trained him, so, everything should run as smoothly as if I was there."

Blaise raised an inquisitive eyebrow, "should?"

Harry shrugged, "it's Seamus, he could burn the place down." Harry grinned mischievously, "then I wouldn't have to go in at all!"

Blaise was silent for a moment, staring disbelievingly at Harry, before he burst out into laughter, Harry quickly joining him.

.

.

AN: Also: don't forget to find me on facebook: www . facebook ariel . sakura . 100 for update times, snippets and even just a chat! :D

PPS: I'm also on Ao3 under the same username and there are more works posted there as some are of a more "ahem" adult nature... ;)