Sorry it has been a long time since i posted. Over the Christmas break I started to read Sherlock fanfiction which clouded my mind. I stopped doing that for now so that I can finish posting my stories. I was also thrown off because originally Snape wasn't featured in any of this so I had to move his portrait.
Originally after I wrote this chapter I thought it was getting a little romantic too soon. But it is valentines Day today so I thought it may be appropriate. I set a goal to have this posted by the end of today.
Would have had this finished sooner but I started to watch a Korean show on Netflix called Coffee Prince and I got addicted. I can't multitask when I have to read subtitles. Luckily there is only one season so I'll run out of episodes soon.
Twilight Moonbeams
Wine
...^.0.^...
Draco tried to ignore Snape's running commentary as much as possible. He had originally thought it would be a great idea to have Severus help with the potion brewing. He had forgotten though how nitpicky the potion master could be.
"You're doing it wrong." Draco heard just as he was pacing an ingredient in the cauldron. Instead of lowering it slowly in like the instructions said, Draco ended up dropping it in with a splash. It was a delicate potion so that one slip up ended up ruining the whole thing.
"That's it." Draco snapped, finally at his wits ends. After days of the constant criticism, he'd enough. He stalked over to the wall where the painting was hanging and lifted it off the nail.
"What are you doing?" Snape inquired alarmed.
"Moving you." Draco exclaimed as he struggled under the heavy weight of the frame. He managed to slide the frame across the floor.
Harry slowed his steps up the stairs when he spotted Malfoy trying to shove Snape's frame out of the work room. "What are you doing?" He asked with a raised eyebrow
"Don't question me just help me move him." Draco called over his shoulder.
"Really." Harry shook his head as he walked over to grab the other end of the frame. They both lifted then shuffled along the landing. "The things I do for you."
"No complaining. You didn't like Severus being in the work room as much as I did." Draco said as they carried it up the short flight of stairs. They leaned the potion masters portrait against the hallway wall.
"You'll regret not having my help when your brewing later." Severus snapped with a disgruntled look.
"No I won't." Draco brushed his hands together then turned on his heel and left the apartment.
"Was he really that bad?" harry asked as he followed the blonde back down the stairs.
"I kept screwing up because he made me doubt myself." Draco complained as he stormed back into the work room. Flicking his wand he emptied the cauldron. He turned to recollect ingredients. "Now I have to start all over again."
Harry sat down and checked the time. "Crap, I a have to go already. We wasted all my time moving that dam portrait." His lunch period had really flew by already. He had been a far distance away so it had taken a while to get to the shop. Had spending ten minutes with Malfoy really been worth it? "I never get around to eating when I come and visit you."
"If you don't actually have time to spare, you don't have to force yourself to come see me." Draco exclaimed once he had everything organized on the table. "I wouldn't be offended."
"You say that now, but you'd miss me if I didn't show up." Harry exclaimed with an amused smirk. They were entering the next stage of training so it would only grow busier. "I would probably never get a chance to see you if i didn't put any effort into it."
"Didn't you have to leave?" Draco asked realizing that Potter was just standing there watching him work.
"Dam you're right." Harry scrambled to his feet and rushed towards the door.
"Hey Potter! Catch."
Harry turned on his heel and caught whatever the blonde had thrown. His seeker reflexes plucking it out of the air. When he looked down he saw it was a packaged sandwich. "Thanks."
"Can't have you wasting away now." Draco had turned back to brewing with a conceited smirk on his face. Potter sent a thankful smile his way before dashing out. Since the brunet had tried so hard for just a few minutes of interaction Draco had a feeling he wouldn't be seeing Potter till the next day at least.
^.0.^
"I told you to stop following me." Draco could hear Potter's distinct voice yell at someone. Was one of his fan girls' stalking him again? When Potter finally entered he was followed in by another auror in training. It wasn't one he recognized. Draco thought he knew all of them.
"Taylor! Back off." Harry growled at his current partner. He wasn't sure how he was going to survive the next few months. After only a few hours Harry already wanted to kill the other man.
The auror department in their desperation to renew their numbers had accepted transfers from foreign countries outside the United Kingdom. That had attracted this toe rag. He had never liked Taylor and getting stuck with him was torture. The Auror Academy assured them that partners were picked randomly but Harry suspected that the head auror had placed them together on purpose.
He was like the complete opposite of him. While Harry avoided attention and praise Derek sought it out. When Harry would run from the press Taylor would pose for pictures. What was really pissing him off though is that Taylor had given an exclusive to the prophet about being picked as Harry Potter's new partner.
"Don't ask." Harry shook his head at the look Malfoy shot him. He collapsed on the work bench with his head pillowed on his arms. Taylor was giving him a headache.
When Draco looked away from Potter who was sulking he noticed that the smiling auror was checking out his form. "You must be the reason Potter wanted to escape work for. I'm Derek." The man held out his hand.
"I thought Potter said your name is Taylor?" Draco asked confused not reaching to accept the hand. The auror had dirty blonde hair with a slight wave to it, a earring in his left lope. Even though he had fair hair colour there was a distinct tan to his skin. He guessed he came from a warmer climate than the United Kingdom.
"Last name." Taylor answered. "What's your name?" Derek probed for more information about him.
"Aussie?" Draco replied finally placing the accent.
"Yes." Derek was impressed that he could pick that up so quickly. Most people just assumed he was English because his accent wasn't strong. He tried to never say words that were associated like mate or dingo which made his accent flare up. "You still haven't answered me. What's your name?"
"Draco Malfoy." He thought this is the moment when the young auror would recoil and pretend he had to go somewhere else.
"I've heard of you. You are legendary amongst your ex-classmates." Derek exclaimed with a bright grin.
"Yeah well." Draco sighed knowing what his ex-classmates must have been saying about him. He knew at Hogwarts he had acted a spoiled rotten prat. It appeared that Draco just seemed to fascinate the auror even more now that he knew some of his background.
"Harry i thought I saw you come in." George said leaning on the doorway. "Can I get your help with something? It's a business matter."
"Sure. I'll be back in a few." Harry walked out of the room and followed George down to the office.
As soon as Potter left the room to retrieve something from George, Derek slid up beside him. "Want to get something to eat?"
"Are you asking me out?" Draco raised an eyebrow. It had been a long time since anyone had tried to hit on him. Though it had not been the first time a guy had shown interest.
"Maybe." Derek shrugged and looked at him with anticipation.
"Taylor! We're being called in." Harry returned suddenly holding a letter in his hand. He had to resist snapping when he saw the way his partner was leaning over Malfoy who was against the wall. He'd seen the Aussie try and chat up females before at the ministry and the pose was strangely reminiscent of that one. It did not sit well with him.
"Got to go." Derek turned to leave with a reluctant sigh. He walked backwards so that he was facing his prey. "Think about it though." He pushed the curtain aside and disappeared out the door from his sight.
"Think about what?" Harry asked suspiciously catching the innuendo. What had Taylor asked Malfoy to do.
"Nothing." Draco brushed off the question. "Don't you have somewhere you have to be?" With one last suspicious look Potter stormed out to complete whatever case he was assigned. Draco shook his head. He went back to work. Potter certainty made his life interesting. Him and all the friends and acquaintances that came with him.
^._.^
Harry had managed to give Taylor the slip. Checking behind him just to make sure, he sighed with relief when he didn't see anyone. Coming to the shop was his thing. He didn't like sharing his time with Malfoy. Yesterday Taylor had managed to spend more time with blonde than he did too.
Since it was already past four in the afternoon the shop was filled with parents accompanying their children. Harry had to wade through the crowd to get to the stairs. He pushed open the curtain to the work room to find it free of fumes for once. Judging by the vials that were lined up on the work table, full with the stopper in place; Malfoy had just finished brewing a batch. It appeared that Malfoy was between potions so he was taking a break.
When Harry searched for Malfoy's location he spotted the blonde leaning over something on the far side of the room. Being silent so as not to alert Malfoy to his presence, Harry snuck across floor with quite steps. When he was directly behind the blonde he asked "What are you doing?"
"Ah!" Draco yelled in surprise. Whipping around to see who had spoken. "Nothing Potter." He tried to use his body to hide something.
Harry narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Grabbing Malfoy by the shoulders he moved him out of the way so that he could see what the Slytherin had been hiding. "Is that a puffkin?"
"Yes." Draco admitted seeing as there was no way he could play the creature off as anything else. "The shop supplies them you know."
"Then why is this one in here and not out in the display case?" Harry asked looking at the blonde pryingly. Then it hit him. "It's yours isn't it?"
"No." Draco immediately denied bristling at the accusation.
"Oh my god. You got a puffkin. That's adorable." Harry mocked with glee as he leaned forward to get a better look. It had unique colouring with it's bright yellow fur and green skin. The ones the shop had usually leaned towards more girly tones. "Aren't they for pre-teen girls?"
"Shut up." Draco snapped turning and scoping the puffkin into his palm. "Come on Lemondrop. We don't have to stay with this swine." With a superior air he glided from the room with as much of his dignity as he could gather.
Harry stood there laughing at the hilarity of the situation. Malfoy having a puffkin was the last thing Harry had ever suspected to happen. When he calmed down Harry looked at his watch and sighed with disappointment. He had wanted to come here and spend his lunch with Malfoy but he had frightened the Slytherin off with his teasing.
Knowing how prickly Malfoy could be when his ego was hurt, Harry knew that he would get scowled at if he tried to follow him immediately. It was a small matter that blow over in no time so he didn't feel the need to apologize this time. Malfoy did apparently have a pet puffkin and he couldn't deny the fact. Harry smiled in amusement when he remembered that Slytherin had called it Lemon-drop.
"Hah found you."
Harry snapped his head up to see Taylor in the door way. He sighed in defeat that he had been found so soon. There was always tomorrow.
^._.^
Draco placed the puffkin on a couch throw pillow when he got back up to his apartment.
Over the past few weeks or so he had grown to love the little bugger. Even though all he received were blank stares as he rattled off to the thing. He'd never owned a pet before. The eagle owl his father sent him to school with didn't count. This was just his to love and take care of.
George was just exiting the floo in time to see Malfoy collapsing despondently on the purple striped couch. "Everything ok?" He asked searchingly and only received a groan from the blonde who had hid his face in a pillow. "That bad huh."
"It's really nothing to worry about." Draco said into the pillow. He turned his face to the side so he could speak properly. "Potter found out about Lemondrop."
"Really, how thick is Harry. You've had him for close to a month now." George said sarcastically with amusement. "Like how could he miss the ball of fur? Lemon-drop is bright yellow."
"I either had Lemon-drop in my pocket or left him in the apartment when Potter was here before." Draco shrugged plucking the puffkin off the pillow and plopping it on his chest.
"I don't see why you care what Potter thinks." Snape said dryly.
"I don't care what you think, Severus." Draco snapped back at the portrait. The potion master usually ignored their conversations since he moved him up here yesterday. The house elf popped in with his usual evening tea. "Thank you Missy." Draco said as he sat up to pour himself a cup. A warm beverage always made him feel better after a long day.
The house elf apparated away and then immediately returned with a packet of chocolate biscuits. She must have picked up on his mood. "You know me so well."Missy curtsied and then popped out of existence once again. Draco immediately ripped open the package and bit into a cookie with a groan of relief. It was just what he needed.
George retrieved a bottle he had stashed away behind a stack of muggle fiction. He knew it would be safe there because the Slytherin had no interest in them at all. Malfoy was going to take a sip of tea but George poured some fire whiskey in it. "Alcoholic tea, what's the occasion?" He raised a platinum eye brow at his boss.
"Why not."George shrugged pouring some into his own cup. He took a sip and enjoyed the burn as it went down. Sitting back into cushions he felt all the tension in his body loosen up. He had gone to visit his mother and she had become a little overbearing since Fred's death. "Has all the brewing been going smoothly?" George asked because he wanted to think about something else.
"I would be a lot more productive if Potter wasn't distracting me." Draco sighed bitterly sipping at his tea. There was more tea than fire whiskey so there was a pleasant burn as it went down.
"He's very distracting is he?" George said with a tone that he was insinuation something.
"Why can't Potter just leave me alone?" Draco complained though he knew he didn't truly mean it. He was just sore from the ribbing he had been given over his pet. If Potter stopped coming to the shop he would be devastated. He had come to depend on the Gryffindors daily visits.
"Harry just can't stay away. I think someone has a crush." George teased with a wiggle of his eye brows.
"Don't even joke about that." Draco tried to hide a blush behind his cup.
"Me not joke? It's what I do." George smirked deviously. "Harry wants, to get into your pants." He sung then cackled when Malfoy tried to kick at him but he was too far away.
"It's not funny." Draco cried in mortification. "Do you think he's still here?" He asked nervously as he sat back with a tired sigh.
"Potter already left." Snape answered.
"How do you know that? You've been here with us this whole time." Draco asked baffled why the potion master would be so sure of that.
"I just do." Snape claimed as he went back to reading.
._.
The next day when Potter showed up Draco felt uncomfortable. He kept blushing in embarrassment and peaking at him over his shoulder. Potter couldn't want him like that. George was just teasing him.
"Is something wrong?" Harry asked picking up on the weird behavior. Usually the Slytherin was cool and egotistical in his presence.
"Wrong? No." Draco responded. He felt his heart beating faster.
"You just seem a little jumpy." Harry pointed out.
"Just didn't get much sleep last night." Draco said as an excuse.
...^.0.^...
It was already late in the evening by the time Potter walked into the workroom with slumped shoulders. Draco had been beginning to think that he wasn't coming that day at all.
"Another day of solving insignificant crimes." Draco teased as he wiped down his work station. Just having finished work for the day himself.
"Yes." Harry sighed deeply. "For insignificant petty crimes though they take allot of energy. Jeez my muscles hurt." He complained as he rubbed at his shoulders. They had them pull crates out of a warehouse so that they could search for illegal potion ingredients that weren't even there.
Taylor had mostly just stood there while he did most of the work too.
"I may have something for that." Draco dropped his rag and walked over to where he kept his potion stock. In his extra time he brewed some potions to use personally. Searching through he found the correct one, pulled it free from the cramped cupboard.
"What no offer of a back massage?" Harry asked sarcastically with a small smirk.
Draco snorted at the ridiculous suggestion. "Very unlikely. Here." He handed the jar over. "Just rub this salve on your shoulder and it should ease the muscle pain." Potter started to unbutton his auror robes. "What are you doing?" Draco asked as the jumper came off next. Why was Potter striping I the middle of the work room?
"Doing as you said. Applying the paste." Harry answered continuing to undress. His coat was off suddenly.
"I meant in the privacy of your own home." Draco said with exasperation.
"The shops already closed so I don't think anyone is going to walk in on me. I don't think I can wait. It is really bothering me." Harry answered, tugging his shirt over his head with a wince of pain.
All his bare skin was revealed to Draco and he flushed at the sight. Potter's skin was tanned and all his auror training had given his nice muscle tone.
Harry unscrewed the lid of the jar and dipped his hand in. He tried to reach back but he couldn't stretch far enough to cover the whole area. It was like trying to apply sunscreen to your back; impossible without someone else's assistance. "Hey Malfoy can I get some help?"
Draco tensed at suddenly being addressed. "What?" He asked snapping out of his trance.
"I can't reach. Do you think you can rub it in?" Harry asked, emphasizing his point by twisting his torso to show his range of movement.
"You can do it yourself." Draco shook his head in denial and stepped back.
"Please." Harry begged with wide pleading eyes.
Draco couldn't resist his green puppy dog eyes. "Fine." He stalked over and took the jar from his hands and stepped behind him. Dipping his hand into the salve he spread it over both his hands. Taking a deep breath before tenderly touching his fingers into Potters shoulder blades. He rubbed his hands back and forth over the soft skin.
"Lower." Harry rasped out. Malfoy's hands felt amazing on his body. He melted when the salve was spread over all of his aching muscles. Even though the pain was completely gone now he didn't tell Malfoy to stop. He couldn't groan of pleasure in when the blonde's fingers dug into his shoulders.
When Potter made a noise Draco snapped out of his daze. He realized he had started to knead the muscles under his fingers subconsciously. "Done." He stepped away putting his arms behind his back so he wouldn't reach out to touch Potter's soft skin again. He cleared his throat nervously as he wiped his hands on a cloth to remove the paste.
"You gave me a massage after all." Harry teased with amusement..
"You brute." Draco huffed, throwing the towel he had been holding at Potter's face. He cursed the gits seeker skills as he just plucked it out of the air and laughed.
"Before I leave, do you need...?" George started to say but he froze in his steps. He looked towards the half naked Harry to the flushed face of Draco. "Did I disturb something?"
"This isn't what it looks like." Draco snapped as he noticed the lecherous grin on the red heads face. "Potter just had some muscle pain and I was helping him apply some healing salve."
"Sure you were." George rolled his eyes at their denial. He didn't believe a word of it.
"It's the truth." Draco stomped his foot petulantly.
Harry quickly pulled his shirt back on. "I'm just going to go." Grabbing his Auror robe he slipped out with a red blush on his cheeks.
"Don't say a word." Draco defensively as he walked by.
^.0.^
Draco hummed as he worked. After working at the shop for close to two months now he had gotten a routine down. He was very comfortable as he worked. Someone cleared there throat as if to gain his attention. Looking over to the door he spotted a man with tan skin.
"Long time no see." The Italian man exclaimed holding his arms out.
"Blaise!" Draco gasped out at the sight of his old friend. He ran over and threw his arms around him. "When did you get back?"
Blaise hugged his estranged friend tightly swinging him around. Looking over the blonde's shoulder he tensed when he met the heated glare of one Harry Potter. The look spoke volumes. It felt like he was doing something wrong now. "Um."
"What?" Draco asked noticing how tense Blaise had become. Leaning back he followed his eyes direction towards the door to see Potter standing there. "Oh it's just you."
"Yeah, me." Harry replied with his arms crossed. The man hugging Malfoy seemed familiar for some reason.
"Potter, you remember Blaise Zabini from Hogwarts." Draco introduced them.
"Yes, he was in Slytherin with you, right?" Harry asked though he knew. Now he could place where he knew the man from.
"It's nice to see you again." Blaise offered his hand and when Potter shook it he squeezed it hard enough to hurt. When the Gryffindor turned his attention back to Draco, he shook his hand in pain while they weren't paying attention to him.
"How'd you know where to find me?" Draco asked realizing he never told him where he ended up.
"I owled your mother since I wanted to surprise you." Blaise replied with a smirk. "It was a complete shock to hear that you ended up working under one of the Weasley twins. You seem happy though so it can't be too bad."
"Not all of us can just travel the world spending our inheritance." Draco exclaimed smacking his friend in the shoulder with a cloth. "Some of us actually have to work to make money to get by."
"Is that where you've been this whole time?" Harry asked, he had wondered why he had never seen the Italian if he was such good friends with Malfoy.
"Basically. I left the country during the war since I was neutral. I had friends on both sides and just didn't want to chose. Even after the war was over I didn't feel ready to come back." Blaise explained how he ended up traveling for so long.
"You didn't fight in the war at all? Harry asked amazed that someone could actually just decided to skip it and leave everyone behind.
"Left before everything got bad. Alot of people did if they had no good reason to stay." Blaise shot a pointed look at Malfoy. "Some of them were just too over our heads to get out."
"I know I was in deep shit back then." Draco exclaimed with a tender expression. He looked at the cauldron and the ingredients he had lined up. It was still early in the day. "I still have work to finish out we should go to dinner later." Draco suggested openly.
"I'll come by to pick you up then." Blaise nodded in agreement. He didn't have any set plans for the rest of the day. "What time?"
"Around seven." Draco smiled at his old friend.
"See you then." Blaise turned around to leave. Speed walking to get out from under Potter's glare. Once he was on the other side of the curtain he stopped. "That was weird." He mumbled to himself.
"What was weird?"
Snapping his head to where the voice came from Blaise met the smirking face of one George Weasley. He knew what the man looked like even f they had never spoken before. The twins had been infamous at school for their pranks. "Potter's behavior."
"In what way?" George asked curiously.
"I swear Potter was going to shoot lighting out of his eyes at me." Blaise exclaimed dramatically.
"Aw yes." George nodded in understanding of what was going on. "Come." He slipped his arm around the Italians shoulder. "I'll pour you a drink."
^.0.^
George closed the door to his office behind them. "Sit." He gestured to the seat in front of his desk. He walked around to the other side of his desk and grabbed two goblets.
Blaise nodded and plopped himself down on the bright pink with yellow dots chair. Weasley had a strange sense of interior design.
"Jealousy." George said as he poured the fire whiskey into the crystal glasses.
"What?" Blaise asked confused by the random word.
"That's why Harry was glaring at you." George explained simply.
"You mean…?" Blaise started to ask. When Weasley gave a lecherous smirk in return he sat back stunned. "Wow. When did they start going out?" Blaise asked.
"Oh nothing has happened between them. Yet." George exclaimed taking a sip of fire whiskey.
"You mean they both like each other but are too stubborn to do something." Blaise realized the situation.
"That's why Harry's jealous of you. As one of Malfoy's oldest friends you have permission to get close to him in ways that Harry can't." George explained the reasoning behind the brunets actions.
"Like how Draco greets me with a hug." Blaise asked to clarify.
"Precisely." George nodded.
"I had a first row seat in school to witness he altercations between those two." Blaise exclaimed, shaking his head in confusion. "How did they even start to like each other? They hated each other with a passion."
"It didn't happen overnight I can tell you." George exclaimed with a deep breath. "At first they hurt each other then I made Harry apologize. They made a truce. Harry started to show up at the shop just about every day. The real turning point was when Malfoy got assaulted by some people. Harry's protective instincts kicked in, you know how it goes.."
"You are going to dinner with Draco right?" The Italian nodded at George's question. "I got a plan, to push them along a little."
^.0.^
Blaise showed up to pick up Draco at exactly the arranged time. When he walked into the workroom Potter was there also. He wondered if the Gryffindor had even left at all. They had a peculiar relationship going. It appeared that Draco was just finishing up for the day.
"Blaise you're here already. Is it really that late?" Draco looked at the clock. "I just need to change and we can go." The blonde glided out of the room wiping his hands on a rag as he went. He wished he had time for a shower but that didn't seem like it would happen. A fresh pair of clothes would just have to do.
It left Blaise alone with Potter who was leaning against the work table with his arms crossed. He was intimidating without trying to be. "Potter would you like to come along?" Blaise offered just as the Weasley twin suggested. Catching up with Draco was his first priority but he would humor the plan for
"I wouldn't want to intrude." Harry said unsure about the offer. Would Malfoy even want him to come along? He would attract too much attention if they went somewhere on Diagon Alley.
"We'll go to a muggle restaurant so you two won't have to deal with people staring at you." Blaise offered to make them feel more comfortable. Since he graduated from Hogwarts he knew a lot more of the muggle world. When he traveled he had decided to broaden his horizons outside the magical community.
Malfoy walked back in wearing his coat and mittens, Along with the grey knitted cap that Harry had given him.
"Potter is going to come with us." Blaise informed the blonde.
"That's fine with me." Draco nodded in understanding. "Where should we go?"
"We'll go to a muggle place since both of you together would cause too much of a scene." Blaise explained their plans.
"I haven't been to any muggle place before." Draco replied unsure. Even though he wasn't excepted in the magical community anymore because of his past, he had never been brave enough to venture into the muggle world. It was still such a mystery to him.
"Don't worry." Blaise herded the blonde out the door. "I know the perfect place."
^.0.^
"Really Blaise, Italian?" Draco said as they stopped in front of a restaurant that had the flag hanging above the entrance.
"What can I say, it's my heritage." Blaise held the door open for the other two to enter. The atmosphere was warm and sophisticated. "Three." He spoke to the hostess who grabbed three menus and led them over to a table by the window.
Sitting down they all stripped off their winter layers. Hanging them off the back of the chairs. When Draco took off his hat his hair was sticking up with static from the wool. Blaise tried to keep his comment to himself about how the blonde would have never let himself appear less than perfect in public like that in the past.
"Welcome to Caravaggio's." An attractive blonde waitress approached the table. She blushed when she realized it was a table of three attractive men. "Can I get you anything to drink for starters?" Holding up her note pad and pen.
Blaise gave her legs an appreciative look as they were shown off with the short length of her black dress. While the other two hardly sparred her a glance and talked amongst each other as they looked over the menus. He was beginning to understand what George meant. These two had eyes only for each other but were too thick to realize it. "A bottle of red wine."
The waitress wrote it down and sent Blaise a smoldering look over her shoulder. Maybe he wouldn't be going home alone once he ditched these too idiots. "Do you know what you want?" He already had what he wanted in his mind before they came in. They both nodded as they closed their menus. "We're ready to order." Blaise said when the waitress returned with the wine.
They talked as they waited for their food. Blaise talked about his travels and all the men and women he had met. Potter shot him a look of astonishment when he realized he was bisexual. He was very open with his sexuality since he found both genders attractive. In school though he had made it a rule to never date his bunk mates, since if it went bad they had easy access to him while he was asleep and vulnerable.
Blaise teased that he was hurt that Draco had never tried to write to him. "I would have written you but I had no idea which side of the world you were on." Draco exclaimed.
"Too true. I've been everywhere the past two years. I would have invited you to come along once the war was over but you aren't allowed to leave the country." Blaise gestured down to his friends left arm.
"How long are you staying in Britain for?" Potter asked, Blaise had a suspicion the brunet wanted him to leave again as soon as possible. Potter had no reason to worry though because Draco was too ingrained as a brother figure in his life.
Their food arrived carried in by two different waiters. The auburn hair one shot Draco an appreciative look that he was completely oblivious to. Potter shot a glare and subconsciously moved his chair closer. The waiter picked up on the possessive vibe and backed off leaving them alone to enjoy their meal.
Blaise shook his head at their actions as he took a deep sip of his wine. They are both idiots to not notice their own actions he thought. "Do you want to hear some stories about Draco?" He asked Potter was paying way too much attention to his food.
"You don't know shit." Draco exclaimed as he sipped at the red wine. He had already had enough of the rich ravioli that he had ordered.
"Remember I shared dorm room with you for seven years." Blaise exclaimed with a smirk. Cutting his veal he ate some of his dish.
"Embarrassing stories from Hogwarts." Harry exclaimed with glee. Leaning forward on the table eagerly. Maybe Zabini did have some uses. "Go on let's hear it."
"Blaise, no." Draco growled in warning.
"At Hogwarts, Draco called Pansy a Fat Cow, in retaliation she charmed Draco into a perm. So every morning for a month he would spend hours every morning straitening his hair."
Draco sunk in his seat with mortification with his hands over his face to hide his blush. "Blaise I'm going to kill you."
"Oh you love me and you know it." Blaise brushed off the death threat. It was the glare he received from Potter he had to worry about. Draco was all bark and no bite. He couldn't kill anyone no matter how much his sense of self-preservation was telling him to. Potter was another matter. From what he'd heard the savior had a temper and could snap at any moment when provoked.
Note to self; do not insinuate that Draco was in love with him.
"Or the time…" Blaise started to say with glee but stopped when he was kicked in the shin. "Owe. Fine ruin my fun." He pouted then started to finish his veal. The evening had been pleasant so far. Blaise hadn't realized how much he had missed Draco while he had been away.
It was time though to put Weasley's plan into action. Blaise knew Draco would want to stay for desert. The boy had a sweet tooth a mile wide. He was counting on the fact that he still did. Once they were finished their main course Blaise made a huge show of checking his watch. "Look at the time already. I must be going." Blaise exclaimed dramatically as he pushed his chair back. He pulled his coat on and tied his scarf around his neck.
"Really." Draco asked in disappointment and a little relief. The man knew too much about him to be in Potter's presence. There were things he didn't want the Gryffindor to know about his past, ever.
"Yes, my mother is expecting me. I'll come visit you later." Blaise leaned down and kissed Draco on the head. Then speed walked away as fast as he could. What they didn't know is he was meeting the waitress by the back door.
Harry glared at the Italian man as he retreated. Malfoy started to giggle at the playful action which was very out of character. "I think you've had too much wine." He commented just noticing the red flush on the blondes cheeks.
"Or not enough." Draco exclaimed with a light tone as he topped off his glass emptying the bottle. Taking a light sip he glanced at the desert menu. "I don't know what to choose between two deserts. "
"How about you order them and I'll have the one you like the least." Harry suggested since he didn't know what to chose either. Malfoy nodded in agreement with the plan.
With the third wheel gone the mood of the table had changed. This was starting to feel more like a date than dinner with friends. With the romantic candle light and the string cortex playing in the back ground. Harry tried to ignore it as much as possible.
When the chocolate bourbon cheese cake and the blueberry pie came they each took a fork and ate off both plates.
^.0.^
Harry walked Malfoy back to the shop for the blonde's own safety. The earlier comment of too much wine had been correct if the amount of swaying and zigzagging the blonde was doing. Harry was worried he might stumble out in front of car if he didn't heard him down the side walk.
Malfoy was also unfamiliar with the muggle world. Harry felt like he had to make sure he made it back into the alley ok at least. With Lucius as a father he doubted he would allow his son to learn a lot about muggle culture. At Hogwarts none of the Slytherins took Muggle Studies unless they were forced to. Harry wasn't even sure if Malfoy knew what a gun was.
To get back to Diagon Alley they had to go back through the Leaky Cauldron. Since it was Friday it was busy and full with people. Since they were both covered up no one paid them any attention luckily. Malfoy leaned his head on his shoulder when Harry stopped to tapped the bricks.
He herded the Slytherin into the alley. Since it was so late there was hardly anyone out walking around. There was only a few lamps lighting the way since most of the shops were closed. It was a comfortable silence as they walked.
Malfoy tripped on one of the cobble stones that was higher than the rest. Harry had to catch the blonde by his elbow before he landed on his face. Instead of getting angry like Draco usually would he started to giggle in amusement.
"Let's go." Harry slung a arm about his waist to support the wasted blonde. He had seen the Slytherin drink fire whiskey before but it didn't seem to have the same effect as the wine. It made him wispy and giggly. Next time Harry would have to monitor Malfoy's intake so he didn't end up practically carrying him home again.
When the shop came into sight the shop window was dark. "I think it's all locked up for the night. Do you have a way to get inside?" Harry inquired because if he didn't, Malfoy would have to come home with him.
Draco nodded and tried to stand up straight. He started digging into his coat pocket. Retrieving the ring of keys George had supplied him with triumphantly.
When they got closer to the shop they found someone waiting for them on the steps.
"Taylor, what the hell are you doing here?" Harry asked with his hands on his hips. He didn't like that the other auror was sniffing around Malfoy.
"I came to see Draco." Derek shrugged as he stood up.
The two auror partners started to bicker.
Draco pushed past them so that he could get to the door. He tried to fit the key into the lock but his vision was swimming a little bit from the wine so he kept missing. He ignored the two auror partners who were glaring at each other and snipping with too loud voices. His head was starting to hurt and he didn't feel like listening to their fighting.
"Both of you, go home." Draco said once he had finally managed to get the door open. "I'm going to sleep." He ducked inside leaving them both out standing on the curve.
^.0.^
After five days with being partnered together Harry was at his wits end. They didn't work as a team at all. He tried to grin and bare it as well as he could.
They were filling out paper work when Taylor started it make comments about Malfoy. It was fine at first when he was talking about how he admired him. As soon as a degrading sentence had come out of Taylor's mouth though Harry found his fist flying.
Taylor retaliated with a punch of his own that Harry managed to dodge it. He was hit in the face by the other punch that followed. Knocking his glasses off his face.
A desk flipped over as Taylor was knocked back into it. Forms went flying in every direction. Pushing himself off the upturned furniture Harry launched himself at his partner. With the momentum they both crashed to the ground. They both kicked and punched at each other.
The loud noises called attention of other people. On duty aurors stormed towards the training area. "Harry what are you doing?" Ron called as he ran into the room. He tried to pry his best friend back away.
Harry allowed himself to be pulled back. Taylor had got the message he thought. They were both in equally bad shape.
"What the hell is going on?!" Head auror Robards demanded as he walked into the room. He eye's narrowed in on the two bloody forms. "Brawling." Robards sneered out crossing his arms. "This isn't a sparring match. You are both on a week suspension for your misconduct." He yelled in frustration. "Out of my sight."
Scrambling off the floor Harry stomped out of the room. He could hear Ron following in his wake.
"I know you have never gotten along with Taylor but, what caused all that?" Ron asked curiously as he fell in step.
His fists clenched at the question. Harry just felt like he needed to get out of the ministry.
^.0.^
It was late in the evening when Potter showed up at the shop. "I was wondering when you were going to show up today." Draco commented as he finished cleaning up his work space for the evening without turning around.
"You could say that."
"What the hell happened to you?" Draco gasped as soon as he turned around and caught sight of him. Potter had a black eye and a split lip. Looking at his hands he could see that he had bloody knuckles.
"Got into a fight." Harry shrugged as he walked over to the work bench with a slight limp.
"What are they actually letting you perform real cases now?" Draco called back as he rushed to retrieve the first aid kit. Potter shook his head at the question. "If it wasn't with a criminal, who was it?" Draco asked curiously. Propped on the edge of the table he examined the head wound.
"Taylor." Harry growled and clenched his teeth.
"Derek." Draco stopped dabbing a wound in surprise and looked down at Potter with a raised eyebrow.
Harry bristled at the fact that Malfoy referred to Taylor by his first name like they were familiar with each other. "Don't use his name."
"I thought he was your new partner?" Draco exclaimed confused. Partners were supposed to watch each others backs not beat the shit out of each other. "What brought this on?"
Harry stared down at the top of Malfoy's head as he was bandaging his hands. "You." He admitted.
"What? How is this my fault?" Draco leaned back indignantly. He'd only ever met the man once and he didn't count that time in front of the shop. If Potter wasn't getting along with his new partner it wasn't his fault. Draco had nothing to do with this throw down that happened.
"You want to know what he was saying about you?" Harry asked, leaning forward in his chair. He leaned over and whispered it into the blonde's ear.
"What?" Draco snapped with a scowl on his face. He had the urge himself to go curse the bastard himself. "You know what I'll do?"
"What?" Harry asked.
"I'll sick George on him." Draco exclaimed. It was the worst position to be on the wrong side of George Weasley. He ran a joke shop for gods sakes. Made a living out of assisting people on playing pranks on other people.
"I look forward to seeing the results." Harry truly was.
^.0.^
...TBC