Harry Potter and its characters belong to JK Rowling. The writing of this fan fiction belongs to me.

Chapter 2

Harry exited the Broadway Theater after enjoying a play. It was his final week in New York and he was crossing the remaining goals off of his To-Do List. He thought about dining at a restaurant afterwards but decided that he'd just head home and order room service. He'd had a big lunch and could wait. As he reached the steps leading down to the subway, he slowed down, checking his pockets for his pass. He removed it from an inner pocket and began his stride towards the steps again when he suddenly felt an object touch his back.

"Don't turn around!" a voice shouted in a loud whisper just as he was about to. "Just act natural and keep walking." Harry did as he was told once he heard the sound of the gun cock against his back.

As he walked with the criminal muttering under his breath, he tried to figure out how he could retrieve his wand from his inner pocket without alarming him.

"Turn into here," the criminal urged him and Harry's heart sank even deeper as he saw two of the man's friends awaiting them. He swore under his breath as two more guns were pointed at him. It would be entirely impossible to reach for his wand now.

"Empty your pockets and remove any jewelry," one of the assailants told him. Harry thought this may be a chance to retrieve his wand but wondered how many, if any, of the guys he could take out before one of their guns went off.

"Please don't kill me," Harry begged as he slowly removed an arm from the sleeve of his coat. He hoped his voiced plea would distract them long enough to remove his wooden weapon but just as he reached for it, a gun was pointed at his chest.

"What are you doing! What are you reaching for!" one of the criminals shouted at him. "Put your hands up!"

"I wasn't reaching for anything! I was removing the coat!" Harry lied.

"Keep your hands up!" The one behind him him warned as he patted Harry down. He felt the thin stick in his pocket and removed it.

"A branch?" The third criminal pondered in mock surprise. "What were you going to do with it, hit us over the head with it? You really aren't from around here," he said as the others laughed.

"Please just take everything and let me go?" Harry pleaded again. Without his wand he was completely helpless. He closed his eyes as he felt a cold barrel touch his forehead, ironically in the same spot Voldemort placed a scar attempting to kill him many years ago. Now a Muggle was about to succeed in doing what the Dark Lord never could.

Suddenly there was a loud crash followed by gasps. Harry's eyes shot open along with his mouth as the three men flew across the dark lot, limped against a car. He immediately looked around and saw the unmistakable white-blonde hair streaming across the parking lot in his direction, wand at shoulder length. He flicked his wrist and three guns slid across the lot at his feet.

Harry looked down at the weapons, at the three now sleeping criminals, and back at Malfoy. It'd been two weeks since Harry saw him and he'd seemed to regain his usual demeanor and though it surprised Harry that the Slytherin had saved his life, he was grateful for it.

"We can't keep meeting like this," Malfoy said with a head shake, looking down at the pistols at his feet. "Pick up your wand." With a slight nod, Harry walked forward and did so. He faced Malfoy again, hearing a faint pop as the guns had been turned into three bottle caps. He glanced up at Harry and turned away, walking out of the parking lot.

"I guess I owe you a thanks now, "Harry said to his back as he followed.

"Don't mention it," Malfoy responded in a sneering tone with a slight glance over his shoulder. "Just try not to let it happen again."

"Oh, like I willingly walked into danger. Let's not forget your own encounter with the Dementors to which I saved you from," Harry retorted with a bit of the hatred for Malfoy returning in his voice.

"I didn't ask for your assistance!" Malfoy hissed, picking up his stride.

"Yeah, because you had the situation under control!"

"I didn't ask for your assistance!" Malfoy repeated.

"Oh, I guess whimpering on the ground was part of your plan to get rid of them! I guess it takes a couple of Dementors to show the coward you truly are!" Malfoy stopped abruptly and Harry almost ran into him.

"Hearing my parents being tortured by the Dark Lord, remembering what it felt like when he did the same to me! That's not something I can quickly push out of my head!" Malfoy turned and shouted back.

Harry's mouth opened and closed. He suddenly felt like a prat, remembering all too well again his own memories the Dementors surfaced.

"I... I apologize," he murmured, unable to look at Malfoy without feeling like an arse. Malfoy didn't respond and Harry finally looked at him. He could see the faint glimpse of fear in his steely grey eyes and thought Malfoy was probably caught up in a memory of the past so he cleared his throat and spoke again.

"I hear them too... My parents... Especially my mother screaming and pleading with Voldemort to spare me and kill her instead."

After flinching at the name, Malfoy finally looked at Harry but his eyes were still distant. Harry couldn't help but notice how un-Malfoy-like he looked.

"I never knew that... Probably wouldn't have cared back then if I did," Malfoy admitted with an apologetic smile. Harry tried to return one but was sure it looked strained.

They stood there awkwardly again, unsure of what to say or do next. After a moment, Malfoy lowered his head and slowly turned to leave. Harry didn't know what possessed him to do it but he cleared his throat again to regain his attention.

"Er, I suppose I could use a drink," he said nervously when Malfoy turned. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me." He nodded at the neon bar sign across the street and Malfoy followed the direction. He stood there for a moment, blinking then gave a quick nod, before walking back towards Harry.