It had been a weird evening. Harry was tugging Teddy tightly in his bedding. Teddy yawned loudly and mumbled 'Good night' while drifting off to sleep. Harry backed out of the boy's bedroom and stood in the doorway for a brief moment to watch Teddy sleep. When Teddy slept his hair always turned the exact shade of brown Lupin's hair had been. Harry smiled at the memories that flood through his mind. Harry completing Lupin's test with almost a perfect grade while Malfoy was stumbling through the course. The look on Malfoy's face had been priceless-…
He was not going to start thinking about Malfoy now! Although Malfoy's weird behavior had been enough for anyone to start thinking about the pale-haired man. Harry shrugged those thoughts away and took a shower before going to bed.
oo0oo
Malfoy dropped by the next morning to give Teddy a present. It was wrapped in emerald green paper, Malfoy seemed to have picked up what Teddy liked. Teddy unwrapped the present, eager to see its content. He seemed slightly disappointed when he saw the bracelet which was a simple thick leather tie. Malfoy noticed Teddy's disappointment at once.
"It's not a regular bracelet", Malfoy said mysteriously.
"It isn't?" Teddy's eyes went wide with excitement.
"No, it is not. It is a 'mood-bracelet', it changes color based on your mood, kinda' like your hair", Malfoy said. "You can ware it at school, it will help you to control your hair and eyes." Harry felt suddenly warm inside. Teddy had told Malfoy about his problems at school and Malfoy had solved the problem within hours. He did something Harry hadn't think of. Harry was a little jealous when Teddy put the bracelet on, which turned bright green in an instant, and jumped on Malfoy, giving him a big hug.
"Thank you cousin Draco" Teddy said, the words muffled in Malfoy's oh-so white shirt. Harry merely smiled at the sight of the two of them. They looked so cute together.
No, I did not think of Malfoy as cute!
"All right Teddy, you can let go of cousin Draco now. We've got to get you to school." Harry said while resting his hands on Teddy's shoulders, maybe a little too possessively because Malfoy glared at him for a second.
"I could take him, uncle Harry", Draco offered teasingly. Harry's eyes went wide with surprise for a second before he scowled annoyed at Malfoy. Harry had refused Malfoy's invitation if Teddy hadn't turned around to look at him with a pleading glare.
"All right, Teddy, you can go with Ma- …Draco if you want to", Harry said and stepped back to summone his gun from his bedroom. He was too lazy to fetch it on his own.
"Thanks, daddy" Teddy said and stepped outside to stand beside Malfoy. Said man sneered at Harry before taking Teddy's hand in his and Disapparate.
Harry sighed, strapped his gun to his belt and Disapparated.
oo0oo
Draco walked Teddy the rest of the way. The little boy talked continuously. Draco tried to stay interested but soon he found himself staring at random muggle cars. When they finally made it to the school's front doors Teddy turned to look at Draco. Those green eyes, fixed on his, the exact shade of green as Potter's, he noted.
"Do you want to watch a movie with me tonight, cousin Draco?" Teddy asked and stared hopefully up at Draco. A movie? Right, those are the muggle edition of a good book. Draco made a mental scowl before looking down at Teddy again.
"Only if your… daddy allows us to." He said and smiled at the boy. The kid was utterly cute. The boy nodded eagerly and hugged Draco before bolting inside to join his classmates.
As Draco made his way slowly down the sidewalk he thought about the upcoming evening. It would be very painful. He had merely survived that dinner! Facing Potter after all those years had been tough. Draco had not believed his eyes when the bloody Chosen One found him naked in that warehouse. Of all people who could have found him, why would it have to be his nemesis! Life's unfair, that's for certain! Draco thought bitterly. He shoved his hands deep down the pocket of his trousers and kicked a stray rock out of his way. Damn Potter, always making his life miserable. Draco bit his lower lip, entered the alley and Disapparated.
oo0oo
"Hey, Harry!" Alan called as he strode through a group of policemen, holding a stack of papers high in the air. Harry haltered and waited for him. When the round man finally reached Harry, he shoved the papers at Harry's hands eagerly.
"What are those?" Harry asked, flapping the papers to underline his words.
"It's a file!" Alan said breathlessly. Godric, that man has to work on his cardio!
"Right… about what?" Harry asked and opened the door to his office.
"A case," Alan stated.
"Oh, really?" Harry said with exaggerated sarcasm in his tone.
"Yeah, and I think ya will find it useful, pal", Alan said happily as they stepped inside Harry's office.
"What the…?"
Harry was lost for words. His office was a wreck! Papers were everywhere, along with pens and feather quills. All his stuff, case files, maps and just everything within his office was on the floor.
Harry gathered up all his remaining self-control, sighed and shut the door with a flick of his wand. He waved his wand again and everything in his office went flying to it's proper places. He heard Alan gasp behind him but Harry ignored him, sat down at his desk and started examining the papers Alan had given him.
The file was very interesting. A woman, apparently dead to unnatural causes but still healthy as a horse. There was even a quotation from the doctor who examined her: "It looks like she just… died". Harry knew the explanation of course. Avada kedavra, the Killing Curse. The muggles must be going mad trying to solve this, Harry thought and closed the file.
"Thank you, Alan. I'm not quite sure it's related to mine but I will keep it in mind", Harry declared.
"Do you know how she died?" Alan asked. Harry smiled softly.
"I'm afraid I do. The Killing Curse", Harry stated. Alan seemed to sense the sadness in Harry's words, despite the soft smile on Harry's lips. Harry went lost in his thoughts for a moment, his smile frozen, not reaching his eyes. He thought about the Lupins, Fred and everyone else that had died in the final battle against Voldemort. He remembered it all, though he had tried to forget, forget it all. All those Killing Curses that had crossed the dark sky that night. All the people, students, that had been hit. How destructive Avada Kedavra was. All those dead people, this dead woman which case laid out in front of him, and yet he had survived it, twice!
"Right, Harry. I'll just… go, ya'll solve this", Alan said as he backed awkwardly out of Harry's office. Harry felt reliefed, alone at last. He rubbed his temples against his sudden headache and leaned back in his chair. He sat in silence until a soft knock disturbed him.
"Come in", he mumbled and turned around in his chair as Draco Malfoy opened the door. "Right, what do you want?"
"Sorry", Malfoy muttered and Harry's eyes widened in surprice. When had Malfoy ever said sorry to him? Never. Harry shrugged.
"I'd like to help you… with your research… your case", Malfoy mumbled as he stepped into the office and closed the door behind him.
"Um… I'm not sure that's a good idea-"
"I want to figure out who kidnapped me!" Malfoy was more determined now. Harry sighed, not caring enough to protest. Malfoy would get what he wanted, he always did.
"All right", Harry shrugged as he turned his back to Malfoy and opening the case file again. He looked at the pictures of the woman lying dead in an alley near the docks. Maybe she had just been passing by when the Killing Curse hit her. Just in a wrong place at the wrong time. Horrible. Lost, again, in his thoughts he forgot that Malfoy was still in his office until he felt a warm had on his shoulder. Harry stiffened for a second before realizing that Malfoy was simply steadying himself as he read over Harry's shoulder.
"Is this connected with the case?" Malfoy asked.
"Maybe…"
"She looks very innocent", Malfoy pointed out.
"You're just saying that because she looks pretty", Harry stated.
"I don't normally notice…", Malfoy started but trailed off. "I mean… um… sure, she's pretty but still…"
"What do you mean? Not noticing what?" Harry asked, suddenly curious.
"Nothing… nothing… forget it." Malfoy muttered and sat down in a chair he had just conjured. This did not satisfy Harry, he was still curious but did not pursue the matter.
"OK, Malfoy," he said, "if you want so desperately work with me…" he grinned teasingly before continuing. "Then feel free to meet me at Grimmauld Place at nine a clock tomorrow morning."
Malfoy sneered at Harry and stood up, the chair vanished as he strolled across Harry's office, opened the door and departed.
My computer needs repairing so there is a little delay for next chapter. At least I managed to finish this one and upload it. Please review, it helps a lot.