(2015-Sept-09)- kind of forgot about this story while I was working on another. I've been busy renovating my house and my dog got sick. A few days ago we had to put him down sadly. I will miss Parker. There are only two chapters left after this but they are long. I just have to edit a bit.
Twilight Moonbeams
Original Nemesis
o0o
"Isn't there somewhere you have to be?" Draco asked as he worked on a batch of Calamity Lotion. Usually Potter was only around for an hour or two at the most. Today it seemed he had been here for hours on end.
"No." Harry replied as he tipped the chair backwards. "I was suspended remember."
"So now you can bother me all through the day?" Draco asked sarcastically.
"Precisely." Harry exclaimed with a bright smile. He had nothing better to do because everyone else was at work. Not wanting to spend the week stuck in Grimmauld Place, Harry had decided he needed to go somewhere. Being a part owner of the shop meant he could walk in here whenever he wanted without worrying about being thrown out. Spending his time bothering Malfoy didn't hurt either.
Draco tried to ignore the piercing stare of the green eyes. Peaking over the rim of the cauldron. He checked if it was the right colour. "How long are you suspended again?" Draco asked since it was hard for him to concentrate being observed constantly.
"A week." Harry replied to the question disgruntled about the length of time. He thought it was overkill for the fight Taylor and him had got into. They had been requesting a transfer for weeks now. The fight had been inevitable. It would have been more productive if they just split them up. Forcing two clashing personalities to work together made no sense to him.
"Why don't you be useful then and cut up some ingredients." Draco recommended placing a cutting board and a knife in front of Potter. Along with a few ingredients.
Harry let the chair drop back to the floor. Leaning forward he peered disgustingly down at the slimy slugs. "Do I have to?" Truthfully Harry didn't want to even touch them. With one sharp look from the Slytherin he reluctantly took the knife in hand and began to slice the ingredients as it described in the book.
"No, stop. You need to be cutting them into slivers. Not chunks." Draco criticized when he came to check on his progress.
"I am." The pieces looked thin enough to him. Harry felt like he was in potion class again. "You're as bad as Snape."
"Don't let him hear you say that. Budge over." Draco snatched the knife from the auror in training hands. Placing a fresh slug in front of him he confidently sliced the gastropod into the thin slivers that the potion desired. "I thought you had actually become good at this stuff." Draco commented as he showed him how it was done.
"Not exactly." Harry rubbed his neck bashfully. "I kind of cheated."
"How can you cheat at potions?" Draco asked confused by his wording. All you had to do was read instructions that were right in front of you. It wasn't like you had to brew the potion from memory.
"I had a copy of an old potion text book, that someone had made notes in the margins about a better way to brew each potion." Harry explained what he actually meant. "And that someone may have been a teenage Snape."
"Did Severus know you had it?" Draco inquired with interest.
"Well he did after the incident, in the bathroom." Harry peaked at Malfoy nervously. They tried to avoid talking about the war. Their relationship in school had always been rocky.
"Oh that." Draco shifted uncomfortably. He resisted the sudden urge to scratch at his chest. At the scars under his robes.
"The dark spell I used, kind of came from the book." Harry clarified why it was connected to the event that followed. "Boy did I get an earful from Snape for that."
"Do you still have it?" Draco inquired, intrigued by the techniques it may hold.
"No." Harry shook his head. "After that I was so freaked out I hid it in the room of hidden things. And you know what happened to that." He couldn't believe that he had broached two very delicate situations in such a little time.
"That's too bad." Draco sighed, the improved brewing techniques actually sounded useful. He could always ask Severus but he was a hard man to talk to.
"It was a long time ago. We aren't kids anymore." Harry wasn't sure how they found themselves here together. They had a really complicated past together. It all just seemed so long ago. Watching Malfoy tuck a lose piece of soft blond hair behind his ear.
They weren't the same people any more. Malfoy no longer wore his hair slicked back on his head. So much had happened since that year he competed in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Harry could say that that was the catalyst where everything got serious. It made him realize how real the threat was.
The reminiscing mood was broken when George walked into the room. "What are you smirking about?" Harry asked noticing the mischievous look on the red heads freckled face.
"The plan has been put into action." George stated like it was a secret that no one else should know about. It took both of them a few seconds to figure out what the jokester was talking about.
"Oh." Draco exclaimed. He had completely forgotten he had asked George to help him get revenge on the young auror.
"What did you do to Taylor?" Harry asked eagerly. Sitting up straight in his seat with attentiveness.
"I don't want to know." Draco covered his ears. If he has no knowledge of the details he could better feign innocence later.
"Fine." George shrugged then he leaned over to whisper it into Harry's ear so the blonde couldn't hear. "-And that's just the beginning."
"Oh that's perfect." Harry exclaimed with a laugh. It almost made being suspended bearable.
"George." Verity showed up in the doorway tapping her foot. "I need your help down in the shop."
"I'm coming." George sprung to help his own shop assistant. He followed instead of led with her. Harry and Draco shared a look of exasperation. After only working at the joke shop a week Draco had come to the conclusion that George had a crush on Verity.
"You would think he's the worker and her the boss." Harry muttered with amusement.
"George should just make a move already." Draco commented with exasperation, turning back to his work. It was tiring just watching them dance around each other.
"You know that George would say the same thing about us?" Harry alleged to what George had been talking to him about in private.
Malfoy raised a supercilious eyebrow at him. "Well he's delusional isn't he." He shrugged the comment off.
o0o
For the rest of the week Harry showed up at the shop and helped Malfoy brew some potions. He wasn't sure if he wasn't more of a hindrance than a help though. The Slytherin spent more of his time correcting Harry's actions than concentrating on the actually brewing.
George continued to sneak away to put the rest of his elaborate plan into action. Draco had heard his boss mumbling to himself as he scratched in a notebook. Giving the jokester free feign to prank someone hadn't been the best idea in hindsight.
It wasn't until Thursday that the Aussie had enough. Taylor stormed into the store sporting bright green hair. Draco tried not to laugh at how ridiculous the junior auror looked. Judging by how Derek had left the house with his hair still that colour he guessed that he couldn't get it to change back.
"I know you have two have something to do with this." Taylor pointed to his head. All week long there had been odd occurrences happening. Most he could count as a fluke. It wasn't until he exited his shower sporting green hair had Derek made the connection that Potter owned part of a joke shop.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Harry tried to keep a straight face. He was successful until he heard Malfoy mumble "Oh, that's unfortunate" behind him. Then he burst out laughing. Just as Harry was beginning to calm down again he glanced at Taylor and began to chuckle again.
"You need to stop this." Taylor paced back and forth. He couldn't stand not knowing when something would happen to him next. "Please."
It was the please that did it. Draco was afraid to ask what had actually been done to the Australian to reduce him to pleading. "George I guess you should stop." Draco called off his boss's vendetta, knowing he was standing just outside the door listening. "Derek's had enough punishment."
"I hope he's learned his lesson." George stepped through the curtain and leaned on the door frame with superiority.
"This should get your hair back to normal." Draco handed over a bottle to Derek. Who snatching the bottle and stormed from the shop. Slamming the shop door loudly.
Potter and George collapsed against each other laughing loudly. Rolling his eyes, Draco sighed in exasperation. "I'm surrounded by idiots."
o0o
The week of suspension passed quickly. Before Harry knew it he was back to training.
Surprisingly Harry missed being able to sit around the shop all day. He found himself staring into space a lot while on patrol. They had to gather 100 hours of active duty before they could take the final exam.
Harry and Taylor walked two feet apart at all times. If they weren't dressed the same people would assume they weren't together. They had to check out a noise complaint. Not all auror work involved chasing dark wizards down. Hopefully once Harry was fully trained he would actually be able to do something interesting.
Harry caught himself checking his watch for the tenth time.
"Is there somewhere you have to be?" Taylor snapped annoyed that Potter was so distracted.
"No." Harry mumbled disgruntled at being called out on his unprofessional continued monitoring Knockturn Ally in silence. It was better if they both just didn't talk. As soon as is watch hit 4 o'clock Harry was speed walking back towards Diagon Ally.
"Where are you rushing off to." Taylor inquired with a knowing tone.
Stopping in his tracks Harry narrowed his eyes. "None of your business."
"Tell Draco I say hi." Derek called after him.
Harry stalked away shooting his middle finger over his shoulder. Childish, he knows, but Taylor was an ass.
When he turned the corner and saw Weasley Wizard Wheeze come into view harry felt himself relax. The bell jingled loudly when he entered. Since it was the evening it was full of children. There was a wall with parents leaning against it waiting for their children to pick something so they could leave. There were also some excited adults scattered through the aisles.
There was a short line up at the till. It always surprised Harry how Verity can multitask by checking out a customer while reading a magazine and chewing gum all at the same time. "You're here late." Verity exclaimed when she saw him. "Draco's still brewing as far as I know."
"I'll just go right up then." Harry pointed towards the stairs and made his way through the crowded shop.
"Like I can stop you." Verity mumbled as she went back to her magazine.
...
When Harry entered the work room it smelled of cinnamon, coffee, and sweat. It was a combination he had only smelt once before. In sixth year potion class if he could recall when they were being taught about the Amortia potion.
Malfoy's face glowed in the bright pink light that the cauldron was giving off. "What the hell is this shit?" Harry asked curiously as he peaked over the rim. The liquid almost sparkled as the blonde stirred it.
"It's Twilight Moon Beams, part of the Wonder Witch line designed for teenage witches." Draco replied like an infomercial as he continued to stir. Luckily he was almost finished and all Draco had to do was bottle it. The constant sweet scent was giving him a headache.
"A love potion." Harry realized why he was smelling that memorable scent again. It was what he was attracted to. "I don't know how George gets away with selling these potions. Aren't love potions illegal?" Debating looking over the brewing rules again.
"Ah, these aren't love potions but infatuation. There's a big difference apparently." Draco put air quotes around the word 'infatuation'. "It's just temporary and will fade easily."
"Isn't Infatuation just another name for short term love?" Harry asked confused about the terminology.
"It isn't strong enough to make the recipient do anything they don't already want to do." Draco tried to clarify how the potion actually operated. "It may just make them notice the user or give them that final push to actually act on pre-existing feelings. The potion doesn't create feelings, which makes it legal."
"Thanks for clearing that up." Harry rolled his eyes at the ambiguous description. He still didn't see the difference between love and infatuation. "Is it based on the Amortia potion isn't it?"
"Yes, that's basically what it is, with a few of the stronger ingredients missing." Draco replied with a shrug. "Why?"
"I was just wondering because I recognize the smell from sixth year." It reminded Harry of Rolmilda Vane's attempts to slip love potions to him in Hogwarts. The small cauldron in potion class made people smell what they were attracted to when they stood over it. This cauldron was much bigger so you just had to be in the room and you were over powered by the scent. There was no way it wasn't effecting Malfoy the same as him. "I'm curious, what do you smell?" Harry asked enquiringly without thinking.
"That is a little personal don't you think?" Draco replied trying to avoid answering. It revealed a lot about a person.
"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours." Harry tried to entice the Slytherin. Deciding to just go ahead. "It smells of cinnamon, coffee, and sweat."
"So basically you smell a flavored latte and body odor." Draco raised a conceited platinum eyebrow.
"Never thought about it that way." Harry smiled to himself as he thought about the combination. "Your turn. I told you mine."
Potter starred at Draco intently. "Fine, Chocolate, Citrus, and earl grey tea."
"That really isn't that surprising." Harry thought thinking about the Slytherin's cravings. It sounded like the blonde's tea break.
"Is that the only reason you're here again, twice in one day." Draco inquired since Potter had already been by for some time that morning.
"I'm going to be gone a couple days." Harry revealed the reason for his second visit. They had only been informed about it in class that morning. He hadn't been sure if he would get another chance to come here before they had to leave.
"And I care?" Draco said sarcastically.
"I'm just informing you so you don't freak out when I don't show up for several consecutive days." Harry shrugged at his reasoning. Just seemed important to inform the blonde about it.
"I think I'll enjoy a couple days of peace and quiet without you hovering over my shoulder." Draco replied back with a smirk.
"Oh I'm hurt." Harry dramatically grabbed his chest.
"Where are you going anyway?" Draco asked curiously. Extinguishing the flame under the cauldron.
"Auror training camp." Harry replied flatly. "Every couple months we get dragged out to the middle of nowhere. Are forced to sleep in tents. Then perform different drills and obstacle courses.
"Sounds fun." Draco said with sarcasm. Truthfully it seemed a dreadful way to spend your time.
"I'm just lucky that Moody isn't the one running it –may he rest in peace." Harry added on because he knew it wasn't good to speak ill of the dead. Malfoy shivered when he mentioned the deceased aurors name. Harry suspected why. "You know, Moody wasn't actually the one who transfigured you into a ferret."
"Yes I know, technically it was Barty Crouch Jr." Draco shot over his shoulder. "But its Moody's laughing face I see in my mind when I think about it."
"Being turned into a ferret for a couple minutes isn't a traumatizing experience." Harry exclaimed with a roll of his eyes. Thinking the Slytherin was blowing the event out of proportion.
"I'll have you know that I had bruises the size of bluggers from that for weeks." Draco snapped at having his past mocked.
Harry smile froze at the new information. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were actually injured."
"Oh, you and Weasley were laughing your heads off. You enjoyed my pain." Draco didn't believe that Potter was sorry for his actions at the time. He had no delusions about how they used to feel about him. "You know Barty Jr only did that to earn your trust." He revealed his own suspicions.
"It's more than likely." Harry nodded somberly in agreement. It had happened so long ago. He still remembered his feelings of glee of seeing Draco Malfoy get what he deserved.
"Is Taylor going to be going too?" Draco inquired interestingly. It seemed like a disaster to have those two on a trip together.
"Yeah, and we're going to have to share a tent together." Harry replied petulantly with a pout forming. Even though they were still auror partners they just tried to ignore each other. It would be hard with the teamwork exercises.
"Are you going to try and make up with him?" Draco asked curiously. After the week before, the two partners seemed to have a worse relationship than ever. George's pranks had made them feel better but it had worsened the animosity between the two. The week long suspension didn't help to break the tension at all.
"I'll have to, won't I?" Potter sounded weary about it. "It wouldn't look good otherwise." Harry sighed with reluctance, knowing he was the one who had to apologize because he had been in the wrong. Taylor was an ass, though he hadn't done anything bad enough to warrant having George sicked on him. They would have to come to an agreement though. Maybe this week would be just what they needed.
"I'm sure that you two can find something to bond over. A common interest maybe." Draco suggested it was something the two should try. If Potter and him had found a way to get along after years of struggle. Anyone can get along if they could.
Harry strongly doubted that. The only common interest they had was their fascination with Draco Malfoy. Harry felt his wand vibrate in his trench coat pocket. He had set the alarm so he would have enough time to meet up with Taylor. So they wouldn't have to spend more time together than they had to.
"Have a delightful week." Draco jested as he started bottling his last potion for that day.
"It's just a lot of yelling and mud." Harry scrunched up his nose up with disgust. He really wasn't looking forward to the week ahead of him.
"Yes, while you're forced to rough it, I'll be here in the comforts of home, in front of the warm fire drinking tea." Draco exclaimed to rub in the situation. It was what he was planning on doing that evening.
"I hate you." Harry said not completely serious. He wasn't sure when that had happened.
"Love you too." Draco dramatically blew Potter a kiss as he pushed off the wall and walked towards the exit.
o0o
Harry zipped up his duffle bag. He only packed the essentials like his tooth brush and clean underwear. Other than that he included only his worse clothes, since Harry knew whatever he brought with him would not be salvageable when he returned. Clothes he had gotten from Dudley had emerged from the depths of his closet. Harry wasn't even sure why he still kept them. It was time to update his wardrobe.
Making his way down the stairs and into the drawing room. "Don't burn down the house while I'm gone." Harry said as he walked past the house elf on his way to the mantle.
"Kreacher would never." The old house elf replied offended his master would ever imply that he would let anything happen to the Black family house.
Grabbing a handful of floo powder out of a coffee mug that had the handle fall off. Harry threw the powder at his feet announcing "Ministry of Magic" clearly. The green flames engulfed him and he stepped out into the packed atrium.
Looking around he saw a large group grey coats. Harry made his way through the crowds. Since it was early in the morning the atrium was packed.
"You're late Potter." Robards barked as he spotted him. Harry looked at his watch with a frown. He was actually half an hour early. They still had half the class to wait on.
"Anyone who is late will be left behind. The port key is scheduled to go off at 10 am on the dot." Robard's announced to the group in front of him even though they were all on time. There was a wide variety of different pieces of rubbish available.
"Hey mate." Ron clamped down on Harry's shoulder in sympathy.
"If I was actually late, like he said, you would all be gone." Harry said petulantly. Looking around to see if they were missing anyone else. Harry was glad to see that Taylor hadn't arrived yet. Maybe he would be lucky and his partner would miss the portkey.
Just as Harry was thinking his auror partner wasn't going to show up at all the Aussie breezed in. Maybe this trip was their chance to work things out. Robards refused to reassign them new partners because everyone else was getting along just fine. His validation was that he didn't want to sever the team dynamics that had already started to form.
They leaned down and selected a bike tire. A few other people arranged themselves around the outside of the muggle object. They could hear Robards counting down from ten. As soon as he reached one they could feel the familiar tug behind their naval.
When they arrived at the training camp it was pouring rain. His hair started to plaster to his forehead under the heavy rain drops. "Perfect." Harry exclaimed as his glasses started to fog. He could already tell how the next couple days were going to go.
The closest he had ever come to camping was when they were staying in the Forest of Dean. As a child the Dursley's had never even sent him to summer camp and they were too good for tents. This is what he imagined camping must have been like except with a lot less mud.
They were led to a row of rickety looking tents that didn't look like it could hold two people let alone twenty. Each received their tent number based on their year of training. They split them up based on gender after that. When he pushed the tent flap back Harry was greeted to ten bunk beds. Wizard space at work. It wasn't the most luxurious accommodations though.
"I want the bottom bunk." Ron called as they got to their assigned bed. Dashing over he threw his stuff against the thin mattress so there could be no doubt about his place.
Harry sighed when he realized why his friend had jumped to claim the bottom. There was a leak in the canvas right above where his head should be situated. Climbing up the ladder he had to patch the rip before he could roll out his sleeping bag.
The ministry didn't see the point of buying new tents while the old ones worked just fine. Even if there were some rips and tatters. Harry was pretty sure they were older than he was. His father probably stayed in the same model when he went through the program.
Harry's teeth chattered as he tried to get comfortable in his bunk. The tent was very drafty. He wasn't sure why they couldn't wait for summer to have this trip. Wishing he was back in his own bed. He fell asleep to the image of Malfoy drinking tea in front of a warm fire. Wishing he could join him.
.0.
It was still drizzling when they woke up. They ate breakfast on picnic tables under some tarps. Harry stirred his spoon through the porridge they were provided with. He was just contemplating if he should risk consuming it or starve when Robards stood up from his seat. "Everyone, find your partners."
Harry reluctantly looked for Taylor in the crowd. They made eye contact but the dirty blonde made no move. Rolling his eyes he made his way over. They stood a few feet apart with their backs to each other.
"Make your way to the obstacle course." The instructor yelled. Everyone scrambled to comply. In rotations of four pairs of partners they made their way through the course. By the time auror trainees were at the end of the course they were covered head to toe in mud.
Harry and Dereck were in the last cycle of recruits. Lining up beside each other they waited for the whistle. As soon as it was blown they were off. They vaulted over the first few hurdles racing each other. Instead of working together they were trying to beat their partner to the punch.
Soon they came up to a large wooden wall that they had to find a way to get over. There wasn't a rope to climb though. Other partners helped each other over the wall. Both Harry and Taylor struggled over themselves taking twice the time as other teams.
As they were running to the next obstacle Taylor put his leg out and tripped Harry making him fall in the mud. "You did that on purpose." Harry accused as he tried to climb back to his feet.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Taylor pretended it was a mistake.
"Stop bickering over there!" The instructor yelled. They shut their mouths and listened to instructions.
It continued that way for the rest of the day.
These exercises were supposed to encourage team work which is why they were failing so spectacularly. They had to get through the obstacle courses together. Their teamwork was so bad that they were second to last every time. After this happening repeatedly they had enough.
After failing again twice in a row the next day Harry decided to off the olive branch. "Truce." Holding his mud covered hand out.
"Alright." Derek agreed as he finished puling some sticks out of his hair. They shook hands then stood to attempt the course again.
After that, instead of hindering each other they helped their partner out. Once they actually started to concentrate on the task at hand, they started to win. After coming in first place a couple times it made them feel good. It made them realize that the work was what was more important than their disagreements.
o0o
It had been nice and quite the past couple days. Draco hated to admit it but he actually detested the silence. After only a short time he already missed Potter. He had gotten used to the Gryffindor hovering over his shoulder.
Though it did take him less time to finish brewing for the day because his full attention was on the potion.
Instead of having to work through his break time, Draco decided to have his tea in the apartment for once. There was a lot of extra time that was usually filled with inane chatter. Draco felt off put that there was no one there to talk to as he worked. He had gotten used to their weird routine. At any time of the day Potter would drop in and just start yammering away.
"No Potter lately I see." Severus commented from his frame. Even though he was no longer in the work room the professor still always knew when Potter had dropped by. It was strange for the boy not to show up at all. "Did you frighten the Gryffindor off?"
"No." Draco snapped sullenly as he slumped in his blue high back chair. His godfather gave him a look like he didn't believe him. With exasperation Draco placed his cup and saucer on the side table. Severus was turning him off his tea. Standing up he stalked back down to the workroom.
Draco hummed to himself as he got back to work. He always took breaks when a potion had to simmer for a long time. Stirring the cauldron with confidence in his actions. Leaning over the book Draco checked to make sure the colour was right. Grabbing the next ingredient he added it to the cauldron.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly until Draco heard a voice behind him. It wasn't one he wanted to hear. "So this is where you got to."
Draco froze when he heard a familiar voice behind him. Whipping around he tensed when he met the smirking facade of Badrik. The man was pushing the curtain aside and stepping into his workshop. "You shouldn't be back here." Draco warned him nervously backing up.
"I heard through the grape vine that you had been working here so I decided to pay you a visit." Badrik said as if they were old friends. His eyes examined the messy room around them.
Shifting uncomfortably on his feet, Draco realized he'd left his wand by the ingredients cabinet. He tried to make his way over without being noticed but Badrik stepped into his path cutting him off. He jumped back from the man who was approaching him, too soon his back hit the wall. Draco felt trapped as the man crowded in on his personal space.
Caging the blonde in with his arms. "Are you sure you don't want to come work for me?" Badrik asked imploringly.
The grey eyes widened at having the suggestion repeated to him again. Draco wasn't in as desperate a situation as before. The offer had a lot less appeal than the first time."Geor…!" Draco tried yelling for help but a hand clamped over his mouth.
Luckily George was performing his usual rounds. As soon as he walked into the room he noticed an unfamiliar man pinning a struggling Malfoy against the wall. Immediately his wand was in his hand. "I don't know what you think you're doing but you need to leave my property. Now!"
The man looked over his shoulder at him with a displeased look at being disturbed. It was only when George could see the face that he realized who this man was. The owner of The Sphinxes' Puzzle was trying to collect again.
When Badrik didn't move away from Malfoy immediately George placed his wand tip at the back of the man's neck. "Leave now. Or you'll regret it." George threatened with conviction in his voice. He'd been through a war, he had no hesitation about cursing this man.
Badrik released Malfoy who gasped for air and slumped down the wall. The man fixed his velvet robes and calmly walked towards the curtain with George's wand following his every move. Placing his body in front of Malfoy blocking him from the man's sight. "I better not see you near my shop again."
Badrik scoffed at the weak threat. He had a lot scarier enemies than a man who made his living running a joke shop. "I'm not done with you." Badrik spat at the Malfoy heir before marching out. The curtain flapping shut behind him.
As soon as it was just the two of them George relaxed his wand arm. Turning around he dropped to his knees in front of Malfoy's limp form. "Are you ok?" He ran an his hands over the blonde's form with worry. Checking for any injuries
Draco shook his head because he didn't think he was. He thought that part of his life was over. He hadn't expected the man who wanted to place him in prostitution to walk back into his life. "George, he knows where I am now."
"I know." George nodded since he'd seen the whole thing. His mind was quickly trying to think of ways to up security. "I won't let him take you though. Ok?" Malfoy nodded as he climbed back to his feet shakily. His hands shook as he fiddled with the ingredients he had arranged on the table.
"I think you should take the rest of the day off." George placed his own hand on the slender ones to stop the shaking. He could see that the altercation had severely shaken the blonde. Putting his hand on Malfoy's lower back and attempted to lead him towards the curtain.
"You're right." Draco nodded stepping back from the work table with acceptance. He put the cauldron under a status charm so he could come back to it later.
As soon as Draco was safely up in the apartment, George rushed to his office. He needed advice on what he should do in a situation like this. Both Harry and Ron were on the Auror retreat so his first choices were out of reach.
It was probably a good thing that Harry wasn't available right now. If he saw Malfoy in this state he would more than likely kill someone. The savour of the wizarding world would end up in Azkaban for murdering the man.
Kingsley was the first one who came to mind. After a short fire call when the minister who told him that he couldn't do anything till the man had actually broken the law.
o0o
Draco was driving himself spare thinking about it.
George threatened to shove a calming drought down his throat if he didn't calm down. He gave him the next day off because he was in no condition to work with volatile potion ingredients. It was very true but he needed something to do.
Now Draco wished he'd let Mrs. Weasley teach him to knit just so he would have something to do with his hands.
"What are you still doing up?" Snape inquired curiously. As a portrait he technically didn't have to sleep anymore to be able to function. Most portraits still did because they had nothing better to do. Checking the time he realized it was around four in the morning.
Draco shrugged as he sipped at his cold tea. He had been sitting in the living room for hours now.
"You haven't been sleeping well lately." Snape commented with narrowed eyes. It was a mystery what had caused this occurrence. He hoped it wasn't just because of Potter's absence. "The bags under your eyes are telling."
"Fine, I concede to your powers of observation." Draco sighed tiredly. He'd been sitting here for so long since he couldn't relax enough to fall asleep. Every shadow or noise had made him sit up in bed the other night. His heart pounding with adrenaline.
"Why don't you take a sleeping draft?" Snape suggested with worry. The boy seemed to be falling apart at the seems.
Draco shook his head adamantly. Taking the potion would leave him vulnerable to an attack.
o0o
Potter stalked into the shop well after closing time. It had already when too late the evening before when he arrived back from Auror Training Camp to drop in. It had been so busy today that Harry hadn't had a chance until late at night to visit.
Truthfully he was surprised to see Malfoy still up. He was sitting on the stairs with a bottle in his hands.
"You look like shit." Draco commented when he noticed his presence. "Something wrong?"
"Just a really long day." Harry took a deep sigh.
"Fire Whiskey?" Draco offered a drink and held up a bottle for him to see.
"Bad day too?" Harry asked only now noticing the slight slur to Malfoy's words. He observed the bags under the blonde's eyes.
"Yeah you could say that." Draco sigh a response. Truthfully he hadn't slept since Badrik had paid the shop a visit. He took another swig right out of the bottle.
"You seem stressed." Harry exclaimed looking at Malfoy's tense form. "Here, have some chocolate."
Ever since he had given Malfoy the box of chocolates Harry had taken to carrying chocolate in his pockets. Offering the sweet to the blonde anytime he was in a bad mood. He had to put a temperature charm on the pocket after the first time he did it and the chocolate melted. He forgot that chocolate could melt from body heat.
It was so bad Harry actually had to take his auror training robes to the dry cleaners. He blushed when he picked up his robes and the dry cleaner commented how 'Too much chocolate like that would rot his teeth.' He wanted to snap how the man should be telling Malfoy that. Though the Slytherin's teeth seemed perfect despite his chocolate addiction.
"Why did you chose the stairs to drink fire whiskey?" Harry asked imploringly. It was strange since the blond had a perfectly good apartment at his disposal.
"Snape chased me out of the apartment with his nagging." Draco shrugged at the question. The potion master hadn't let up with his insistence that he take the sleeping draft.
"Fair enough." Harry flopped onto the stairs beside the blonde. "Hand it over." He took a long drag of alcohol to chase his bad day away. Harry had never had a strong resistance against alcohol so it wasn't long before he was slurring his words too. "You're my nemesis."
"I thought that was Voldemort?" Draco responded in confusion. He felt the tension in his shoulders loosen. Potter had a strange way of making him feel better. Just for a little bit he wanted to pretend that everything was ok.
"You're my original nemesis. From the moment I entered the wizarding world you've been there to taunt me every step of the way." Harry garbled but the outline of the story was clear. "Couldn't have done it without you." Somehow he skipped ahead to the end of the war.
"Do what?" Draco asked confused. It felt like they were playing fill in the blanks because they were both so wasted they were having half a conversation. Or two different ones entirely.
"You know you were the first wizard my age I ever met?" Harry asked randomly.
"Really?" Draco exclaimed turning to look into the green eyes in surprise. He remembered seeing a scrawny boy while he was being fitted by his robes. He had a strong urge to talk to him. "Why didn't you shake my hand then?" Draco asked inquisitively.
"You reminded me of my cousin, even though he's a whale." Harry exclaimed with a giggle as he used his arms to suggest the large size. Giggling when he imagined Draco overweight. He was sure that Dudley weighed at least twice as much as Malfoy did at that point if not more.
"Wow. I reminded you of your over weight cousin. How flattering." Draco exclaimed sourly as he took another sip of fire whiskey.
"I'll shake your hand now though." Harry held out his hand almost hitting the blonde in the face in his enthusiasm.
"Watch it." Draco snapped as he ducked out of the way. Noticing that Potter was still holding his hand out, he rolled his eyes. Taking the appendage in his, they shook hands for longer than was strictly necessary. "We're both so fucked up." Draco laughed before taking another sip of fire whiskey.
"Yes, we are." Harry looked at Malfoy like he'd never seen him before. The first time they met was when they were getting fitted for their Hogwarts robes. Malfoy had always played an important role in his life ever since he was eleven years old.
He just realized that Malfoy was good looking. No Draco was beautiful. Sure his chin was a little pointy but it suited him. His pale hair and skin made him almost glow in the moonlight that was streaming through the windows into the dark shop.
After this realization Harry found it hard to not be physically aware of the Slytherin. He had tried not to think about their shared kiss at Christmas. The next time they saw each other it was like it had never happened. The memory of how soft the blonde's lips were came back to the forefront of his mind.
"Potter. Potter!" Draco snapped his fingers in front of Potter's face. Who blinked his green eyes as he came back from where ever he had drifted off to. "You spaced out on me"
The grey eyes were unfocused as Harry stared into them. Leaning in he kissed him. Malfoy tasted of fire whiskey, chocolate, and something else. Since Malfoy didn't push him away he grabbed the blonde hair and deepened the kiss. Nibbling at each others lips with little bites. When the blonde's mouth opened under his Harry pushed his tongue in.
Clutching at the auror robes, Draco pulled him closer to his body. It had been forever since he had done something like this. They pulled back needing some air. His lips trailed over Potter's jaw feeling the slight stubble against his skin. His hands started to wonder exploring Potter's body.
When Malfoy's hand moved from his thigh to his crotch Harry snapped back to reality. His eyes widened when Harry realized what he had just been doing. He pushed Malfoy a way from him. Making the blonde fall off the stair to the floor because he was too tipsy to catch himself.
"What the hell." Draco complained as he pushed himself off the shop floor.
"This never happened." Harry snapped as he scrambled to his feet. Quickly he stood up and stormed out of the shop. The bell jingled loudly when he left. As soon as he was on the street Harry apparated back to his Grimmauld place.
Hiding under the covers until he had to go to work on Monday.
…TBC