CHAPTER 8

Harry was mopping up some of the apple juice that Scorp had splashed on himself when he noticed Cole entering the gents . Although the above mentioned man hadn't spoken a word to him, he hated him already. He didn't like the way he was looking at him and Draco. What was that thing about boys he mentioned anyway? Now Draco was in the loo and he didn't want to leave him alone with that huge gorilla.

So Harry perched Scorp on his hip and went towards the men's room. He slowly opened the door and what he saw made his eyes magnify ten folds. Draco had his shirt open and hanging off his shoulders, his trousers were by his thighs and Cole was holding him from behind. As he watched, Draco suddenly fell to the ground and the added weight tugged Cole down too.

"What the fuck is happening here?!" Harry barked.

"Oh, Draco's boyfriend! Would you like to join in?" Cole grinned, standing up and trying to haul Draco onto his shoulder.

Without further ado, he quickly produced his wand and cast a stunner at Cole, who flew back from the force of it and hit the opposite wall before sliding down. Harry was furious. His blood was boiling under the skin, he felt like if he didn't calm down soon, he might end up doing something he will regret. It had taken all his will power to cast a simple stupefy rather than a crucio. A hundred nasty curses were already at the tip of his tongue. He knew he cannot curse a muggle with anything serious, he knew he didn't have the licence to maim a muggle unless absolutely required but with the rage he was feeling right now, he knew he can easily cast an Avada Kedavra without blinking an eye.

Instead, he waved his wand and sent two patronuses. He quickly removed his coat and wrapped Draco just before Ron apparated in with two more aurors. He asked Ron to hold the man in custody and obliviate him, giving him a few vague details as Harry himself didn't know what he was going to do with Cole later. After another minute, Hermione apparated with a crack.

"Harry? I got your patronus, what do you need me to do?" she walked towards her best friend and then her eyes fell on Draco lying on the floor with a coat draped across him.

"What happened to Malfoy?!" she asked, her voice panicky.

"I'm not very sure, I'll just take him home...I want you to take care of Scorp. He is scared." He handed Scorp to Hermione. Scorp seemed to be in shock, his eyes were teary and he pressed his face against Hermione's shoulder.

"Yes, alright, but Harry I need to know what-" Hermione said again while trying to calm Scorpius down.

"Later, Hermione!" Harry dismissed before she could finish the sentence, not even looking at her.

Hermione kept quiet. She knew her friend for years and had learnt not to provoke Harry when he was not in his best moods. She knew he will tell her everything once he was back to normal. So now she concentrated on the task of mollifying Scorpius. She watched as Harry crouched down and half-carried Malfoy before apparating to his house.

Harry put him on the couch and covered him with a blanket before going to the kitchen to make a strong cup of coffee that will help lessen his anger-induced headache. Fifteen minutes and four cups of coffee later, Draco stirred and came back to consciousness. Harry was seated at the dining table from where he had a perfect view of the living room and the couch.

Draco sat up and looked around. He vividly remembered the events that unfolded before he had lost consciousness and wanted to make sure that Potter had really saved him. He spotted Potter sitting at the table and sagged with relief.

"Where's Scorpius?" asked Draco.

"Hermione." said Potter. One word and nothing more.

They sat staring at each other for two whole minutes. Heavy silence hung in the air which was not comfortable in the least. Draco was thinking of something to say to him to explain the situation and was just opening his mouth to thank him when Potter spoke.

"You've changed so much, Malfoy."

"In what way?" he asked, puzzled.

"The Malfoy I knew was sure an arrogant prat who somehow got what he wanted but even he wouldn't have stooped so low." Potter said, shaking his head.

Now Draco was thoroughly confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Stop acting so innocent, Malfoy!" Potter stood up and the force knocked the chair down.

"I will, if you speak english. Stop talking in riddles and get to the point, will you?!" Draco had every right to be irritated. Why can't Potter speak clearly?

"The point is that you weren't even bothered that your son is outside before effing around with that old coot! Did you even bother to take a closer look at him?! He's double your age, Malfoy! Not to mention the fact that it was a public place! You didn't even have the patience to get a room, did you? Are you that desperate to let anyone screw you?!" Potter yelled. He was breathing heavily and it seemed like he was trying hard not to jump over the table and throttle Draco.

"What?! Don't spout crap, Potter! You have no idea what you're saying!" Draco scowled.

"Don't I? I saw what you were doing in that bloody restroom ." Potter yelled again.

"So you're implying that I was happily fucking Cole there before you came barging in?"

"I'm not implying, I know what I saw. There's no point in lying now."

"Yes, of course. You shouldn't have interrupted our little shag session, Potter. You spoiled the fun." Draco said sarcastically. "Since you noticed so much, you would have also noticed that I passed out on the floor? I'm sure your little brain would have come up with an explanation for that as well?

"I don't know! Probably because you were caught red-handed in the act, your little brain was so shocked that it couldn't handle it. Whatever it was Malfoy, I know what I saw." Potter repeated, with enough stress on the words.

Draco snorted. What sort of ridiculous theory was that? Draco fainted due to shock? He was certainly getting on Draco's nerves now.

"I'm not blind you know." Potter said after some time.

"You're not blind, but you are definitely stupid!" Draco glowered.

"I'm clever enough to know that you will spread your legs for anyone with a cock between theirs! Even if it was someone old enough to be your father!" spat Potter.

And that was the final blow.

"FUCK YOU, POTTER!" Draco yelled before stomping out of Potter's flat, banging the door closed. Only when he was outside did he realise that his shirt was still open. Quickly buttoning it and rearranging his clothes, he left the building.

Harry sat back on the couch which Draco had just vacated. 'Fuck you too, Malfoy.' he thought. The headache which had quelled down a bit after four cups of coffee was now worse than ever. His skull was throbbing and Harry went into his room to retrieve a pain-relieving potion from his chest of drawers. Only when the headache had subsided a little did he start thinking.

Why was he even bothered about who Malfoy has sex with? He was an adult and had free reign obviously. Why should he worry about who he shags, right? The only thing was that he couldn't bear to think of someone else touching Draco. The rage he had felt when Cole was running his hands over Draco was like no other. Maybe his thoughts have really gone awry and he needed to see the healer Hermione was talking about. Whoever Draco fucks, it's his business. None of his concern, really. So there was no need to raise his blood pressure over someone he doesn't care about, right?

The thing Harry didn't realise was that his headache was back again. The thought of seeing Draco with someone else was enough to bring back his anger in full force and the empty potion vial he was holding, shattered with the pressure he had applied on it.

Draco walked towards Granger's house but he was finding it hard to contain his anger. He just wanted to go back and punch Potter in the face until it was a bloody mess. How dare he say that to him? Did it really look like Draco was enjoying himself in that blasted loo?! He knew Potter wasn't very smart from his school days but today, Potter had proved his absolute and complete idiocy. How can someone be that naive? Oh that's enough! He shouldn't care for what Potter thought. Although unknowingly, he had saved Draco from Cole, for which he was grateful but that wasn't helping him to calm down. How dare he call Draco arrogant when he was the one so full of himself!

"Saint Potter!" he spat, which made a lady walking on the street, shoot him a weird glance.

He was so occupied with his thoughts that he didn't realise he had already crossed Granger's house and was heading towards the next street. Cursing his brain, he turned back and walked to The Maple Apartments. Using the lift, he reached the ninth floor and rang the doorbell.

"Hi Malfoy." Granger smiled, welcoming him inside.

"Hi Granger." he replied out of courtesy. It wasn't right to take out your anger for one person on someone else, even if that someone else was said person's best friend.

Scorpius was playing catch with Rose and they both ran to Draco as soon as they saw him, with a cry of

"Daddy!"

and

"Draco!".

He knelt on the floor and hugged them both, feeling his anger ebb away. Children always made him forget everything else.

"Hi Scorp, Hi Rose." he whispered. "So what mischief did you people get up to?"

That question was enough to let Rose start her long tale of what she had been doing when Draco wasn't there. Even Scorp tried to add in his stories which seemed all gibberish but Draco nodded anyway, listening intently.

As usual Rose didn't want them to go so Draco stayed for lunch, making small talk with Granger and spending time with the kids. He enjoyed playing with children.

Both Scorp and Rose were tucked in bed for their afternoon nap when Granger turned to Draco with a grave look.

"You look very tired." she observed.

"Not sleeping at night does that to people, Granger." he replied without thinking.

"And why didn't you sleep?" she asked solemnly.

"Uh...I...um..." he stammered.

"That's alright. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to." she said.

Well, that was surprising. Then came the inevitable.

"So what was all that about? What happened today at that restaurant?"

"I'm sure your beloved Harry will let you know." he sneered. His hands were already itching to break Potter's nose when he thought of him.

"I've never seen Harry that angry for a long time now." she said, more like speaking to herself.

"I don't understand his reason behind it actually." Draco said. He didn't think of this before but really why had Potter been angry?

"You know you can ask for help anytime you want, don't you? Ron told me everything Harry said at the Ministry that day. But whatever Harry says, we'll always be ready to help you, Malfoy."

"Won't Potter be opposed to this proposal?" he asked.

"I don't really know." she said thoughtfully. "He's not been himself since the war. His moods fluctuate from one extreme to the other. Sometimes I really worry about him. I know his behaviours are odd and I apologise for what happened at the ministry but we're talking about you here. Forget about Harry. Are you alright?" she asked, with concern in her eyes.

"I'm fine, Granger. It's very charming that you want to help and I really appreciate your concern but-" Draco stopped himself. Can he really ask her for help? Merlin knows he's not fine! So should he or should he not? She did sound very genuine afterall. He decided to give it a go.

"Well...you can do me a favour actually." he said cautiously, eyeing her expression.

Granger smiled. It was like she knew Draco was not fine and will eventually ask for help. And knowing Granger, Draco was sure that was the case.

"I already spoke to Weasley about this. My neighbour has shifted to Australia and she was the one who was always there to babysit Scorp when I'm at work and now I don't have a place to leave him at. It's only during nights and Scorp doesn't usually wake up until morning. I know looking after Rose will be hectic, but can you... I mean can I leave Scorp here when I cannot watch him?" he asked reluctantly. Goodness! Why was it so difficult to ask for help?

"Of course. I don't mind at all." she was still wearing a smile.

"You sure that won't be a problem?"

"Not at all. Scorp is a well behaved child and Rose will be very happy." she said cheerfully.

"What about Weasley? Don't you have to ask him?" Draco wondered.

"Oh Ron!" Granger chuckled. "He doesn't object to anything I say." she said cheekily.

That was funny. Seemed like Granger was the domineering partner of the household.

"So can I leave Scorp here now? I'll collect him tomorrow." he asked hopefully.

"It's a Sunday, Malfoy. What work do you do on Sundays?"

Draco didn't see that one coming. What was he supposed to say to that now?

"I don't have to answer everything you ask me, Granger. You said I don't have to say anything I don't want to, didn't you?" he crossed his arms in a defensive gesture.

"Yeah, Yeah..." she rolled her eyes. "I'm just curious as to what sort of secret service special agent you are who doesn't want to tell me about their top-secret mission." she smirked with a questioning gaze directed at him.

Draco quickly tried to change the topic.

"If you're done trying to play detective, may I go home now?" he asked with a fake yawn. "I am very sleepy."

"Okay. Bye Malfoy." she said, waving enthusiastically.

Draco gave a short wave of his hand and left her home.

Draco initially didn't believe that Granger will be very helpful but fortunately for him he was wrong. She was a very sweet lady and surprisingly he enjoyed her company. Potter was lucky to have such an understanding friend. Merlin knows he needed her to knock some sense into him. Draco shouldn't have treated her so badly in school. They might have been good friends if it wasn't for his prejudices against muggleborns. He had his lovely father to thank for that.

Happy that Scorp's problem was sorted out, he walked to his house with his hands in the pocket. He tried to forget about what he had to do in the evening, there was no point in dreading what was to come. He still had hours to ponder over that. For now, he wanted to be happy.

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