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

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Chapter 4

"I must say... You do great wand work. Even Hermione would have to admit so," Harry said after they'd finished dinner. They were back in the living room with another glass of wine.

"Granger... How is the-" Malfoy blinked as if he was holding back a malicious statement. "perfect student? And the Weasel?" he smiled defiantly.

"They're fine, I suppose. I received an owl about eight months ago from Ron. They're expecting."

"You mean to tell me you three are no longer joined at the hips?" Malfoy asked with mock surprise on his face.

"And your worshipers?" Harry countered.

"Touché... I only receive news from my mother," he replied as if it hurt a little to admit it.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" The surprise on Malfoy's face was genuine this time.

"I don't know. I just..." Harry searched for words that weren't offensive.

"It's okay. You can make it up by doing the dishes. You can handle that, can't you?" Malfoy challenged.

With a smile, Harry began to stand to retrieve his wand from his coat but Malfoy lifted his wand and said a spell that shot Harry's wand across the room. They reached for it at the same time and their hands touched.

There was a sudden charge that raced through Harry's fingers, down to his bones. Not an electric shock but a tingle of some sort. He immediately pulled his hand back at the same time Malfoy did and the wand dropped between them. They stared at it for a moment, both softly letting out the air in their lungs they didn't know they were holding, before Harry finally picked it up.

"Refill?" Malfoy asked, leaning forward and filling Harry's barely touched glass without waiting for a response.

"Um, sure," Harry answered anyway. He was already feeling the affects of wine, mixed with the drinks from the bar, but he felt the sudden need for more and apparently Malfoy did as well.

"Those dishes aren't going to wash their selves... Figuratively speaking," Malfoy said after sitting his glass back on the table.

"Right," Harry replied with a grin. He twisted his body towards the kitchen and with a few flicks of his wand, the dishes began to wash and dry their selves.

"Impressive..." Malfoy said with a head nod. "I guess you did learn a few things."

"Actually, that was from Mrs. Weasley. She thought it would come in handy as a bachelor."

"A bachelor... Yes, a wonderful lifestyle," Malfoy said as he glanced around his flat.

"So no, er, mate?" Harry asked nervously.

"I've had a few flings here and there. Working on Wall Street, the power I have, seems to have its share of, I believe the Muggles call them groupies... However, nothing long term. Any escapades on your travels?"

Harry sputtered a bit in his glass before answering. "No, no escapades."

"Not even a bit of snogging?" Malfoy was now sitting with his back off of the couch and one leg resting on it; his knee pointed towards Harry.

Harry glanced down at the bare skin that his raised trousers exposed. A small section just above the ankle. Harry wondered if it was as soft as it looked then quickly shook the thought from his head.

"Well, no. I haven't been too eager to make any friends of any sorts."

"Why?" Malfoy asked in a tone that said he was sure the reason would be stupid.

"I... I don't want to lose anyone else," Harry told him as he stared into his glass. When Malfoy didn't respond, Harry finally looked up to see Malfoy's grey eyes piercing him. "What?"

"So the Dark Lord is dead and you're still allowing him to dictate your life," Malfoy stated.

"I'm not allowing anyone to-" Harry began in a cross tone but Malfoy cut him off.

"The war has been over for years. Voldemort is dead, thanks to you. Why in the bloody hell would you push everyone away because of a dead man that already cost you so much?" Malfoy's voice was etched with disbelieving anger.

"And how is that any different from what you're doing? You left too!" Harry was on his feet but didn't remember standing. He realized he'd dropped his glass, spilling wine on the couch but he didn't care at the moment.

"I didn't have anything to walk away from!" Malfoy was now standing his self, however he had the sense to put his glass down first. "I didn't have family and friends who loved me. I had a father serving seventy-five years, a dead aunt, and a mother who seemed to forget I existed while she mourned her husband as if he were dead too! Of course I left, but not because I was a coward!"

"I'm not a coward!" They were so close to each other, their breaths touched.

As their breaths raced against each other, the atmosphere began to change. It was as if some magnetic force was pushing them closer together and as the anger dissipated, it transformed into something else.

Harry's eyes traveled to Malfoy's lips, noticing how pink and pouty they were. Malfoy, as if hearing the thought, softly braised his tongue across the top corner of his upper lip. His eyes were watching Harry's lidded pair and before realizing what he was doing, he was leaning forward with his lips pressed again Harry's.

Harry's body froze in shock, not seeing the action coming and at the fact that he wasn't repulsed or angered by it. He could've easily pulled away, especially since Malfoy wasn't even kissing him but just letting there lips touch, as if he was challenging Harry to take the next step. More shocking is that he wanted to.

Realizing what he'd done and the fact that Harry seemed to become immobile, Malfoy moved to take a step back but Harry's arms shot up and pressed against his shoulders, holding him there. He pushed against his lips and Malfoy's mouth automatically opened as his face twisted into the kiss.

Harry didn't know what possessed him to do it but the feel of Malfoy's lips against his, the taste of the wine lingering on his tongue, it was causing an imbalance in his equilibrium. As the kiss deepened, he felt the same shock as when their hands touched and he quickly backed away.

There was a long moment of confusion from both parties as they stood there catching their breaths and attempting to gain control of their emotions and understand what just occurred.

"Er..." Harry finally spoke. "I should go." With the last word spoken, he quickly turned on his heels and rushed towards the door, grabbing his coat and shoes on the way out. He didn't stop to put them on until he was out of the building.

It wasn't until he reached the corner that he realized he'd left his wand on Malfoy's couch. He turned to go back but thought he he saw Malfoy and rushed off ahead.