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

Chapter 3

"What can I get you?" the bartender asked, her eyes darting between Harry and Malfoy.

"Er, what's good? I'm not really a drinker," Harry admitted and Malfoy let out a breathy chuckle.

"Two Tom Collins," Malfoy ordered.

"So how long have you been here?" Harry asked as they sipped on their drinks.

"Almost a year. You?"

"About two months. This is my last week here," he told him and Malfoy shook his head.

"What a way to end it... This place has its up and downs but it feels a bit close to home," he responded in a distant voice.

"So you've been gone for a while," Harry stated, picking up on his tone. Malfoy hesitated before responding.

"I left a little after the war. Felt a bit out of place, you know, with..." He drifted off but Harry understood.

"Not really having a side," Harry finished. "I always thought you wanted to join with Voldemort. From the first time we met you were bragging about being a Slytherin."

"Yeah, well I wasn't the only one trying to live up to my family and friends expectations of me," Malfoy countered, nodding towards the bartender as he finished off his drink. Harry looked down at his own half finished drink and took a large gulp.

He waited for Malfoy to get his second before speaking.

"That's one of the reasons I left... After fulfilling the prophecy, I felt lost. I mean, how was I supposed to follow saving the Wizarding world? Anything following that would be a let down for The Chosen One or The Boy Who Lived."

He finished his own drink and stared at the glass as he wondered why he was easily spilling his worries to an enemy. He shook his head as a slight smirk began to etch on his lips.

"Yeah, this is weird for me too," Malfoy quipped as he signaled for the bartender to refresh Harry's drink.

"Thanks," he said to both Malfoy and the bartender. "So many people lost their lives... I couldn't handle the praises while remembering that. I went to so many funerals..." he stared at nothing before shooting back half of his drink in one big gulp.

"Casualties of war... At least you didn't have to walk around being known as the coward... I don't know why I thought it would be so easy. To be dark," he added at Harry's confused expression. "I couldn't even kill you." He and Harry looked at each other and laughed.

"I would've thought you could do that in your sleep," Harry said with an eye roll.

"Honestly Crabbe or Goyle would've done it without hesitation. I kept telling them the Dark Lord wanted to handle that on his own, which was true but... That was only an afterthought excuse." Harry watched as Malfoy's eyes widened as if he couldn't believe he'd admitted that.

"I couldn't have killed you either," Harry told him.

"Like you possessed the skills," Malfoy teased and they shared another laugh. Malfoy suddenly remembered something. "Well I thought you did once," he muttered and Harry froze.

Sectumsempra Harry thought.

"I didn't.. I didn't know-" he began but Malfoy raised a hand.

"Of course you didn't. Otherwise you wouldn't have had the guts to use it."

"You're right... I never apologized for that, though I don't believe that would even cover the situation." Another awkward silence passed before Harry spoke again. "You know... I never realized how similar our lives were."

"Yeah, just on opposite sides of a Galleon," Malfoy replied with a snort. "So besides getting mugged, what else have you done while here?" he asked to change the subject. Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, I guess I better head back to my hotel," Harry said as they stood outside of the bar a couple of hours later.

"And I should head home," Malfoy replied as he absentmindedly fiddled with the keys in his pocket.
With a slight head nod as a farewell, he turned and slowly departed.

"See ya," Harry muttered and began to slowly head in the opposite direction.

"Could you do for a late supper? I could give you a lift after," Malfoy turned and asked. He clamped his jaw shut, not sure why he asked.

"You cook?" Harry asked in disbelief.

"Oh, I do wonders in the kitchen," Malfoy responded while tapping the wand in his pocket with a grin.

"I'd like to see a Malfoy being domestic," Harry replied with a grin of his own.

He followed Malfoy to his car, black with a white interior. He'd assumed it'd represent the Slytherin colors, down to a serpent embedded in the wheel then immediately shook his head. They were long ways and years from Hogwarts. The fact that neither had yet to hex each other proved that.

Malfoy's car wasn't the only reminder of the luxurious life he grew accustomed to. His flat was breathtaking. The space was an off-white color mixed with charcoal and black. There was a round, white couch that encircled the living room space, which you stepped down into. A round, black table was centered in the middle. The floors were made of a very light grey, closer to white marble and there was a humongous television installed in the wall. The kitchen and dining area had the same theme, with a glass dining table Harry was afraid he'd shatter.

"You're the first non-Muggle I've had over. Glad you approve," Malfoy said with a smirk as he removed his coat and shoes. Harry quickly closed his mouth and did the same. "Have a seat. Would you like some Pinot Grigio?"

"Sure," Harry said as he watched Malfoy point his wand at the fridge. He waved it again at a cabinet and two glasses came out.

After the wine bottle uncorked itself and filled the glasses, one made its way to Harry as Malfoy caught the other in his hand.

"I was thinking... Steak and kidney pie?" he asked with his back to Harry.

"Sounds perfect," Harry said a bit solemnly. He hadn't had it since he last saw the Weasley's. He quickly looked at the contents on Malfoy's center table to distract his self.

He picked up a remote control wondering what it went to and soft music began to play in surround sound. He wondered if Malfoy put some sort mind spell on it but when he looked up, he saw Malfoy watching him with his wand out. He didn't know he was being watched. They locked eyes for a moment, greys to greens, then Malfoy turned and began to busy himself with supper.