Thank you everyone to the amazing response to this story so far. I'm loving it

I hope you all enjoy the latest chapter.

I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 5

The next few days passed in much the same fashion as the first few had. Harry ate breakfast in The Leaky Pickle before going for a walk through Knockturn Alley, he had avoided Diagon Alley even with his disguise, not wanting to take the risk. He had helped Terence a few more times with his potion deliveries and was becoming much better acquainted with the Alley. Harry was really beginning to like the older Slytherin. He was smart and funny and had a love for potions that bordered on obsessive, Harry imagined that he had been a favourite of Snape's while at school. They were fast becoming friends and the idea made Harry smile warmly. Harry had even managed to pick up a bit of work at The Leaky Pickle, nothing crazy, just helping to serve tables and clear plates during the busy dinner time rush. He had only started a few days ago but was quite enjoying it.

Getting the job had been a complete fluke, he had been down for dinner one night and watched the poor serving girl run off her feet taking orders and clearing tables, even with the help of magic she was struggling. So, Harry had stood up to help, getting the food to the right people and clearing away the dirty dishes. The serving girl, Sarah, explained that they did usually have an extra person helping but they had quit a few days ago and they hadn't managed to find a replacement yet. Harry had just nodded in understanding, happy to help. After the rush had quietened down Tim had wandered over and offered him the job, which Harry had happily accepted. Harry couldn't remember the last time something had worked out so easily for him.

The pub got loud and busy during the dinner period, but Harry enjoyed the craziness, it pushed all his other thoughts and worries away and allowed him to just live in the moment.

He chuckled softly as a large group over near the door hollered for their food. They were werewolves and a very rowdy bunch, talking and laughing and pulling each other into headlocks seemingly at random. Harry dodged out of the way as one of the group was pushed out of his seat and landed in a heap on the floor at Harrys feet. He sat the plates he was holding on to the table and waved his wand so the plates trailing in the air behind him flew to the right people. Ignoring the man on the floor as he pulled himself back into his seat

"Thanks Harry!" The group chorused loudly as they tucked into their food.

Harry shot them a small smile before heading back to the bar to collect the next order.

"Watch it" a man said gruffly as Harry made his way through the crowd, Harry startled badly at the gruff voice so close, thankful that he wasn't carrying plates of food he took a few deep breaths before continuing on. He knew it would take him a while to get used to people being in his personal space. He was so unused to a friendly touch that it made him feel nervous and panicked if anyone got to close to him, especially unexpectedly.

Harry wiped the sweat off his forehead and cast another cooling charm on himself as he finally made it to the bar. Even with cooling charms the pub was stifling hot when it was this busy on a summer evening.

"Alright there Harry?" Sarah, the other server asked as he stopped to take a breather.

"Yeah I'm good" Harry said with a smile. "Just needed to catch my breath."

Sarah gave him a nod, "maybe you should try wearing a short sleeve robe instead, it'd be a lot cooler," her attention was pulled back to the customer in front of her, thankfully saving Harry the trouble of having to answer.

He delivered a tray of drinks to a group of witches who were cackling merrily about the size of some bloke's broomstick, before he hastily delivered a meal to a hag sitting in the corner watching the room in silence.

He heard someone calling his name and turned to find Terence sitting with a group in one of the larger booths. Harry waved back, before making his way over.

As he drew closer Harry recognised the other people with Terence; Marcus Flint, Adrian Pucey and Cassius Warrington.

Flint and Warrington gave Harry matching looks of suspicion while Pucey shot him a small smile.

"Hey there Terence, I didn't know you were coming in tonight."

"It was only a recent development. Marcus here just got promoted at work, so we decided to come out to celebrate" Terence explained, pointing to Flint.

"Well, congratulations on the promotion" Harry said with a smile, trying to ignore the glower that Flint was sending his way.

"These are my friends, Marcus Flint, Cassius Warrington and Adrian Pucey. Boys, this is Harry. He is staying at The Pickle at the moment and has just started working here." Terence introduced.

Harry nodded in greeting at the group.

"Terence has been talking about you a lot Harry. You best be careful, or you'll start to make his girlfriend jealous" Pucey said with a grin.

Harry chuckled at the joke, but surreptitiously pulled on his sleeves to make sure that his wrists were covered.

"Ooh better be careful" Flint said with a broad smile. "Mirella knows a number of nasty hexes."

Terence just rolled his eyes at his friends' antics. "Ignore them Harry, they're just teasing you, Mirella is lovely, and she would never harm you. She knows who my heart belongs to."

"I don't know, it sounds like Pucey might be the jealous one here." Harry teased. "Don't worry, Terence will still have plenty of time for you even though we're friends now."

Pucey spluttered for a moment speechless, while Terence, Flint and Warrington laughed.

Harry winked at Pucey, hoping there was no hard feelings, thankful when Pucey just smiled back.

"Well I better get back to work, it was good to meet you three. I will see you later Terence."

As Harry was walking to collect the next order of food, he noticed a large group of people enter. They were mostly men, but a few women were with them. Tim hastily ran out from behind the bar and rearranged several tables so that there was room for the large group. The room had quietened down as the group entered and took their seats, Harry realised that everyone had turned and watched for a few moments before returning to their conversations and meals.

Harry continued to watch for a few moments longer. He didn't recognise anyone in particular but a few of them looked familiar, like they may be related to someone he knew from Hogwarts. Harry quickly turned away and went back to work.

The good thing about working at The Leaky Pickle was that you were so busy, work just flew by in no time at all. Harry who had never had an actual job before, relished in doing a good job and getting paid for it. It was very different to all the unappreciated labour he had been forced to do at The Dursleys.

As he delivered the next few orders, he became aware that he was being watched. He turned and looked around the room, spotting quite a few people from the large group that had entered earlier staring at him. Thinking they must need help with something Harry made his way over.

Harry swallowed thickly as he saw that everyone at the table was now watching him, he had never liked being the centre of attention.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, "anything I can help you with?" He asked to no one in particular.

"No, no" the man in the centre answered. "We were just trying to place if we had seen you before. You see we come in here quite often for a meal and haven't come across you yet."

Harry looked at the man, jolting slightly as he felt a tiny current run through his scar, he rubbed it with a sigh of frustration before nodding in understanding to the group. The people who frequented Knockturn Alley were a suspicious bunch, this actually wasn't the first time he had been questioned and he had only been working here a few nights!

"Yeah, I am new, been staying at The Pickle, but only started working here a few days ago." Harry explained. "I only work during the dinner rush, just helping to deliver food and clear plates."

"Ah that would explain why we haven't come across you before." The man said.

Harry just nodded again, beginning to feel awkward, he wondered if it would be rude if he were to excuse himself and just walk away.

"What's your name?" a man further down the table asked.

Harry turned to look at the man who had spoken and felt himself still, his breath catching in his throat. Everything else seemed to fall away as his whole world zeroed in on the man. He was tall and broad with caramel coloured hair and calculating hazel eyes, though Harry noticed that his whole body was tense as though poised for flight… or a fight. Harry thought he looked handsome, though while part of him felt like there was something completely right about the man, he also felt that there was also something wrong about him also. It was a weird combination and Harry found himself confused at the feelings that were surging through him.

Someone walked past bumping into him from behind and jolting Harry out of the near trance like haze he had been in. Harry subconsciously reached for his right wrist, rubbing it where it had started to burn slightly.

"Ah, it's Harry." He said in a rush as he started to turn away. "Don't mean to be rude, but I better get back to work."

Without waiting for a reply Harry turned and practically fled back to the bar, ignoring the eyes that he knew were on his back and the way his chest ached as he walked away.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Rodolphus was in a bad mood. It had been a long week, with no end in sight. Rabastan had been talking daily about a young man he had run into in Knockturn Alley earlier in the week. The way Rabastan told it, the sun shone out of the blokes' arse. Though Rabastan thought he may have been wearing a glamour as the man had seemed perfect, but also kinda wrong. He couldn't describe it properly but had no trouble giving Rodolphus a headache by trying to.

He sighed as Rabastan barged into his room while he was trying to get dressed for dinner. Plonking himself on the bed as Rodolphus tried to pick out a robe that wouldn't be too hot.

"You better hurry up brother or you will have Bella in here tearing you a new one." Rabastan said with a chuckle.

Rodolphus rolled his eyes but actually did hurry up and picked out a robe, quickly pulling it over his head and straightening it. Bella may be one of his best friends, but she could be downright scary when she wanted to be.

The two brothers walked out of his room at Malfoy Manor and made their way to the entry hall where a group of people were already waiting.

Bella bounced up, looking at him with a crazed grin.

"There you are dear; I was beginning to think I was going to have to go upstairs and hurry you up" Bella said and Rodolphus knew her well enough to pick out the subtle threat in her words.

He chuckled slightly, "no need for that, I'm here now."

"Well thank goodness for that, we were beginning to worry" a light voice said from behind Bella.

"Ah Carmel you made it, so wonderful to see you" Rodolphus said sincerely, leaning down to kiss Carmel Zabini's hand, then moving out of the way for Rabastan to do the same.

"I wouldn't miss my Bella's birthday for anything" the beautiful woman said, as she wrapped an arm around Bella's waist and pulled her close.

Bella looked at the other woman with adoring eyes, before they shared a brief kiss.

Rodolphus smiled at the pair, happy that the two were finally back together after everything they had been through. Sure, he was technically Bella's husband, but that was only on paper, their parents had forced them to marry even though both preferred their own gender. Rodolphus now thought of Bella as one of his best friends and he knew she felt the same way about him.

"So where are we off to tonight Bella?" Rabastan asked.

"The Leaky Pickle" Bella said with a grin. "Their chocolate mousse is to die for."

Rodolphus heard a snort and looked around to see Draco standing nearby.

"Really Aunt Bella? The Leaky Pickle? We go there nearly every week." Draco said with a sniff, though he had a small grin on his face.

"Yes, and we always enjoy it." Bella said, staring at Draco like he'd lost his mind.

The blonde teen merely rolled his eyes and wandered back over to his parents.

Rodolphus looked around to see who else was coming out for dinner. There was the usuals, The Malfoys, Notts, Carrows and Zabini's as well as Avery and Dolohov. It was going to be a big gathering tonight. Sometimes Rodolphus couldn't believe that he was out of Azkaban and was able to go out to meals with his friends and family. Sure, he was out illegally, and they would all have to wear strong glamour's, but he had learnt the hard way to enjoy the little things in life.

The group turned when they heard a throat clear from the bottom of the stairs.

The group looked on the newcomer with respect, some with awe and a decent mixture of fear.

Their Lord, though not as crazy as the light would have everyone believe was not a wizard to be easily trifled with. He had managed to reclaim his youth and good looks and most of his sanity thanks mostly to his Lords own immense power and knowledge and Snape's brilliance at potions. He now looked like a man of a similar age to Rodolphus himself, with dark wavy hair and deep chocolate brown eyes. He radiated an aura of dark power that seemed to draw people in like moths to a flame.

Everyone moved aside respectfully, heads bowed as he walked through the group of people.

"Now none of that, we are here to celebrate Bella's birthday after all." Lord Voldemort said, looking around at his most loyal followers.

Immediately the group began to relax.

"I will need to cast everyone's glamour's before we leave, to ensure that no one recognises us. We don't need those pesky Auror's bothering us."

"Or Dumbledore and his merry band" said Dolohov darkly, Rodolphus nodded in agreement at the sentiment.

The Dark Lord moved amongst his followers, casting glamour's on all. They weren't big changes, just little changes to hair and eye colour, tweaking the shape of noses or jaws. The best disguises were the ones that helped you blend in, not stand out.

Rodolphus turned to look at Rabastan and laughed. They still looked like brothers even though they now looked completely different. They both had the same caramel coloured hair and hazel eyes.

Rabastan eyed him critically for a moment, "I'm still better looking" he said with a smirk.

Rodolphus just rolled his eyes, God save him from younger brothers.

When everyone was sufficiently disguised, including the Dark Lord himself, they started to apparate in two's and threes to the apparition point in Knockturn Alley.

When they had all arrived, they walked with confidence toward The Leaky Pickle, keeping a close eye on their surroundings to ensure that there were no unexpected surprises.

When they arrived at The Leaky Pickle the whole room quieted for a moment before abruptly kicking back into life. Rodolphus was sure that many had an idea who they were, but like true Knockturn Alley inhabitants they said nothing and left them alone.

They sat and started looking through the menu. Rodolphus wondered why he bothered; he always ordered the same thing anyway.

He looked up when he heard Rabastan gasp. "There he is! There he is!" Rabastan said excitedly and Rodolphus froze for a moment at the happiness pouring off his usually stoic brother.

The whole group, not very subtly for a group of mostly Slytherins, turned to see who Rabastan was talking about. Across the room stood a tall handsome man with shoulder length auburn hair and eyes that were lit up with amusement.

Rodolphus felt his heart literally stop as he took in the other man, he gripped the table so hard his knuckles turned white and he heard the wood start to crack under the strain.

What the fuck was going on? He wondered.

The sentiment was shared a moment later by Bella.

"What the fuck is wrong with you two?"

Rodolphus couldn't seem to get his mouth to work well enough to answer her.

He ran his eye over the younger male, and while appreciating the view couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.

"He is wearing a glamour of some sort" his Lord spoke from further down the table. I'm not sure what but I can see the magic coating his whole body.

Rodolphus managed to tear his eyes away from the red head to look at his Lord, thinking, that would at least explain the sense of wrongness that came over him when he looked at the young man.

"He's the one I've been telling you about." Rabastan said, smirking when he saw the look on his brother's face. "There is something about him."

"There is definitely something about him" Rodolphus said softly.

"He just seems like an ordinary man to me" said Lucius, from his place beside Rabastan.

As though sensing the attention he was being paid, the young man looked up, brows furrowing slightly in confusion before walking toward them.

"He's coming over!" Rabastan said excitedly, practically bouncing in his seat.

"Will you calm down you ninny!" Bella hissed at him. "You'll scare him away."

Rodolphus felt his own heart start pounding in his chest, he moved his hands off the table, resting them in his lap before crossing them over his chest. He started panicking, what did he normally do with his hands!?

He ignored Lucius' knowing grin before he settled for putting them back in his lap, he thought he looked less threatening that way. He was relieved to see that Rabastan had schooled his features into an impressive mask of indifference, though Rodolphus could see the tension still sitting in his shoulders.

The young man cleared his throat. "Anything I can help you with?" he asked awkwardly.

No one answered for a moment and his Lord snorting in exasperation started talking.

"No, no" he said, all calm surety. "We were just trying to place if we had seen you before. You see we come in here quite often for a meal and haven't come across you yet."

The younger man rubbed his forehead in frustration for a moment before the look changed to one of relief and Rodolphus saw him relax a little.

"Yeah I am new, been staying at The Pickle, but only started working here a few days ago." he explained. "I only work during the dinner rush, just helping to deliver food and clear plates."

Rodolphus stared, entranced by the sound of the young man's voice. It was soft and melodic and Rodolphus felt his whole body relax slightly at the sound.

"Ah that would explain why we haven't come across you before." His Lord said staring intently at the young man who just shrugged. He cast a glance back toward the kitchens and Rodolphus knew he was about to walk away. Before logic could catch up with his brain, he started speaking.

"What's your name?"

The stranger turned toward him and they both froze, like they had been caught in some kind of trap. The rest of the pub fell away as Rodolphus looked into blue eyes, his breath coming in short gasps. The moment was broken when someone bumped into the man from behind, bringing them both back to their senses.

He looked decidedly uncomfortable now and his brow was knitted in confusion.

"Ah, it's Harry." He said in a rush before starting to turn away. "Don't mean to be rude, but I better get back to work." And with that he took off back towards the bar and kitchens.

Rodolphus and Rabastan both sat watching as Harry walked away.

Snickering nearby brought them both back to the present.

"What on earth just happened?" Draco asked from his place at the end of the table beside Blaise and Theo.

Rabastan and Rodolphus looked at each other for a moment, and he knew that Rabastan had no idea what had happened either.

He cleared his throat while he got his thoughts together.

"I'm not actually sure, there's just something about that man. I feel drawn to him, though I'm not sure why."

"I feel the same way brother" Rabastan said nodding seriously. "I look at him and everything else falls away."

The group looked at the brothers in surprise, neither were known for their way with words.

"It's odd" Carmel said. "That you are both drawn to the same person. Neither of you have ever really had a partner before, have you?"

The group looked contemplative at those words.

Rabastan spoke up, "I… I've been with people, both male and female, but nothing serious. None of them ever felt right." Rodolphus nodded in agreement.

Voldemort hummed but didn't voice his thoughts.

"Our Lord said he is wearing a glamour" Nott spoke up.

"There could be a number of reasons for that" Bella said staring significantly at their whole table, everyone who was wearing a glamour.

The conversation moved on to other things but Rabastan and Rodolphus found their eyes and minds still lingering on the mystery of Harry.