Author's Notes: This chapter takes place about two years after Chapter Two. Thanks to Peegchica (they'll be feeling the love soon, promise, MoonyPadfootJr (thanks for your constant support and you'll get the Corbin/Cassius stuff soon!), and Assur (so glad you're liking this story!). Special thanks to Xaverii Jade for her input and beta on my grammar. :-)

Chapter Three

"So, you and Jack are dating?" Janna Corl, Corbin's fiancée, asked, leaning forward to talk to Jack's new boyfriend, as Jack went up to the bar to get another round of drinks. The pub was noisy and crowded. They'd had to do a sound dampening spell to be able to have a conversation.

"Yes. He's rich, he's handsome and he's a great lay." Rob Goyle answered with a toss of his head. He was short, around 5'6", and had curly brown hair. Corbin didn't like him. Rob seemed…sleazy.

"Three required qualities for a boyfriend." Janna laughed, tossing her dark brown hair over her shoulder.

"I'll say." Katrina Tessen agreed. "Know any other rich wizards, Rob?"

"Hey!" Liam protested. "I might not have money and I'm not handsome, but I'm a great lay."

"We're already married, so I must like you." Katrina laughed, kissing Liam on the cheek. "I was just thinking I could have an affair with a rich man and get jewelry."

"No affairs."

"Not even a little one?"

"No." Liam pulled his wife close. "I have clearance to do Unforgivables, and I'll do them on any man who looks at you too long."

"Oooh." Katrina batted her eyelashes. "You big, strong auror."

"Do you really have clearance to do Unforgivables?" Janna asked Corbin.

"Yes. Only as a last resort, " Corbin added, stroking a hand through her smooth hair. Liam, Jack and he had graduated from the auror training program a few weeks ago.

Janna was quiet as she thought about that. She hugged Corbin tightly and tilted her face up. Corbin looked down at her fondly. She was very pretty, with delicate features, high cheekbones and a sweet mouth. She closed the distance between them for a gentle kiss. "I will have to get used to being an auror's wife, won't I?"

"About time, Jack!" Liam shouted as Jack returned with the drinks.

"Sorry. Ran into an ex…or three." Jack smiled sheepishly. Corbin had thought it was hard to keep track of Stevens's women. Jack went through men just as quickly. Janna somehow managed to remember each one of their names, but after meeting the ninth boyfriend of Jack's since graduation, Corbin had stopped trying.

"He's just after your money." Corbin said, as they walked towards the lift to go to lunch.

"I'm aware of that." Jack said calmly. "It's not a new thing, men being after me for my fortune."

"And you're still going to date him?"

"It's not like I'm planning on marrying him. Rob's just a bit of fun for now." Jack shrugged. He and Rob had been dating five months now. Corbin and Liam were both the same, now that they were married, they wanted Jack to be married as well. Jack wasn't ready to settle down – or at least he wasn't ready to settle down with any of the men he'd dated so far. "I was thinking I'd cook dinner for him this weekend."

"Sounds lovely." Corbin said flatly, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.

"Would you help me? You know I can't cook."

"I don't approve of this relationship." Corbin said as the lift finally arrived.

"I know you don't." Jack stepped into the empty lift after Corbin. "You don't approve of any of my relationships because they're with men. So this is no different from all the other times you've been disapproving."

"It is."

"And why is that?"

"Because…I don't like him."

"Will you help me or not?" Jack ignored the last comment. Corbin didn't like any of the men Jack dated. Jack could tell, whether Corbin said anything or not. He had long since given up with seeing that fact as a sign Corbin liked him in a romantic way, especially now Corbin was married. He and Corbin were friends, just friends, except sometimes Jack jerked off while thinking of his friend…but he'd never admit that to Corbin, so they were friends. That's what they were. Friends liked to spend time together, it wasn't anything special that Jack was asking Corbin to help him. Jack was so absorbed in his conversation with himself that he had to ask Corbin to repeat what he'd just said.

"I said fine. What time are you having dinner?"

"Seven."

"I'll be over at three so we can go to the store."

"Put some water on to boil." Corbin said, placing the groceries on the counter.

"On what?" Jack asked blankly.

"Haven't you ever cooked?"

"We had house elves when I was growing up and since moving out on my own I've learned four cooking spells." Jack was very proud of those four spells.

"And none of those four cooking spells include boiling water?"

"Yes, one does." Jack said defensively. Corbin arched an eyebrow at him silently and waited. "In a tea kettle."

"It needs to be in a pot for the potatoes." Corbin said calmly. "Just sit back before you hurt yourself."

"You are such a prat." Jack muttered, hopping up to sit on the counter.

"Do you want my help or not?" Corbin picked up a big knife.

"Yes." Jack answered meekly as Corbin began chopping up potatoes and spinach. Corbin took over the cooking while Jack watched closely.

"It's just like making a potion, " said Corbin as the meal was in the final stages of preparation.

"Don't rub it in that I was horrible at Potions. I only got through it because Zabini tutored me."

"That's what you called it?" Corbin asked teasingly.

"Yes. Mostly." Jack paused. "So, how'd you learn to cook? Did your mum teach you?"

"No. Owen and I started, as a laugh, after graduation. He didn't have to work and he figured he'd cook and keep house for Cassie. After he died, I got his cookbooks so I could continue. It was a way of remembering him, I guess."

"Oh." Jack was startled at hearing Malfoy's nickname used. Since the break-up, Corbin had always called him 'Malfoy' with a definite edge of hatred. Jack wondered if the rumor that Malfoy and Corbin had staged the break-up for Hill's family was true. Although, he couldn't imagine Corbin cheating on Janna…He wished he could asked, but that was impossible. Corbin was too reserved. Jack wished Corbin would be more open about himself, he would like to be better friends, but he always felt Corbin kept him at arm's length.

"So, all done." Corbin said, turning towards the table and picking up his coat. "I put a statis charm on it so it will stay warm and you won't have to worry about it getting burnt."

"Thanks, Corbin." Jack smiled, walking Corbin towards the door.

"You're welcome, Jack."

"You're looking sexy today, Hill." Malfoy stopped in the corridor. Long fingers reached out and twined through a curly lock of Corbin's hair.

"Don't touch me." Corbin hit Cassius's hand away.

"Must be hard for your wife. Waking up to your charming personality everyday."

"Must be hard for your lover, too. I'm surprised he hasn't killed himself yet. Maybe it needs three years to build up – how long have you been together?"

Malfoy stared, green eyes blinking at him for a long moment. Corbin knew that had been a mean thing to say, he knew what Malfoy's mother had done, but he hadn't been able to stop the horrid words. Malfoy took a step closer and Corbin took a step back – and his back hit the wall. Malfoy smirked and took another step.

"Spoken like a Malfoy. I'm proud. All that time together, I must have rubbed off in you." Cassius sneered, his voice silky and cold. "Let me know when you decide you need a man again. I won't be gentle, I remember how you like it."

He stalked off. Corbin stayed where he was, unable to move, cursing himself as memories of Cassius's body against his flooded his senses. "Spread your legs for me." The hot whisper scorched his skin as long fingers stroked down his side. Corbin shook his head violently.He was not gay. He was happy with Janna. He loved her. She was lovely, soft and tender. That was what he wanted. It was.