You know those times when you're so in love with someone that you put yourself in a position you know you'll get hurt in, just to be close to the one you love? Fuck love.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

"Hey Draco." Pansy Parkinson was the only one of my "friends" to actually keep in contact with me - somewhat - and probably the one I least wanted around. Just more of my stellar luck. I nodded and looked up from the glass I was drying long enough that she knew I was listening, but not long enough to actually look at her. I can't believe I dated her for a while.

"Harry Potter is having and open house for his twenty-first birthday." She looked pleased, and I had no idea why, unless she was suddenly enamored with the most well-known wizard alive, just like everyone else was. Everybody loves Potter.

Including me.

This time I did look at her, my gray eyes cool. "And why did you think this would interest me?" I asked, keeping my poker face, while my heart raced. I was actually undecided. My head said no and my heart said yes. It would be painful, to say the least...again watching Harry lavish affection on those Weasleys and that Mudblood, Granger. But I would get to see him again. Was it worth it? In a way, I was almost glad for the paparazzi who followed him around taking photos constantly. But a mere photograph in a newspaper wasn't the same as being near him.

She shrugged and sat in a bar chair and traced the woodgrain of the worn counter. "Hey, it's free drinks and free food."

She had a point. I could always use free drinks and free food. Especially the drinks.

"So, are you going to go?" She twirled her hair in her fingers and chewed on the ends. Gross. So glad I broke up with her.

I shrugged in my methodically-perfected nonchalant manner. "Free drinks and free food, how could I turn it down?"

"I'll meet you here at your flat on Saturday, at 7. It is on Saturday, you don't have plans, do you?"

I groaned inwardly. Hopefully she didn't think this was going to be a date, just a friend thing. Oh, and my "flat" was hardly more than a glorified B&B room. But I just nodded, hoping she would leave soon.

Thankfully, she did, and I was left alone with my thoughts.

I both dreaded and anticipated Saturday. I hadn't seen Harry (in person) in at least a year. The last time I saw him, I had bumped into him - literally - in Diagon Alley. It was completely on accident, I swear.

Diagon Alley was bustling with foot traffic, and though it was usually busy, today it seemed busier. Must be a sale on wands or something, I thought sarcastically. A cart full of animal cages was coming towards me, so I backed into a tiny side alley between two stone buildings. The alley was barely wider than my shoulders. I felt something soft behind me, and an "oof" sound. I turned around, but there was nobody in the alley.

"Show yourself!" I demanded. I drew my wand and started sidling down the alley, until I was up against the back wall and I knew whoever it was was trapped. I poked my wand and again felt something soft. "I know you're there. You're trapped, and I'm not leaving until you show yourself."

Slowly, like a curtain being drawn, a human shape was revealed. "Lumos," I murmured, and gasped.

A sheepish Harry Potter looked at me.

I was too shocked to say anything, and just stared at him. I was also surprised that he had revealed himself to me at all, instead of Apparating out of there while still anonymous.

"Malfoy," he said, clearing his throat. "Please don't tell anyone."

I just turned and left the alley without saying anything, my mind swirling. I didn't know why he had allowed me into that confidence. It was evidently a Cloak of Invisibility, the best one I'd ever seen. Was it possible he had moved past all the abuse I had hurled at him while at Hogwarts? Was it possible that he had friendly feelings for me now, after all these years? My questions went unanswered...

But since then I hadn't heard from him.