Use Somebody Chapter 6: Trial And Error, a harry potter fanfic

I own nothing.

A/N: Hey guys! Chapter 6, Ta-da! Sorry for the delay, I've had a busy week. On Saturday (27th June) my son, Archie, took part in our local annual carnival. He had the very important role of 'Apple' in his nursery's interpretation of the book 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' and he walked the whole 2 miles with not a single tantrum (I also had to walk the 2 miles, and I did throw a tantrum lol) My face book page has never been so healthy with all the 'fruit' pictures that I posted lol.

A/N 2: Firstly - I'm sorry to everyone who wanted to see Ron. He isn't here!!! I don't want to take focus away from Harry/Draco, and I've already made Pansy, Hermione and Fleur strong characters and Blaise will be introduced in this chapter too, and establishing their relationships is kind of holding up the story. Plus, to be honest…I really don't like Ron. Lol. Sorry, sorry, sorry. I guess I'm a Slytherin at heart.

Secondly - The Michael Jackson references were already in this chapter before he died (I feel like a huge jinx!!!), and I wondered for a little while whether I should remove them. However, I felt as they weren't at all derogatory to him or his music, I should leave it as it is. His music is completely brilliant, and the songs mentioned are among my favourite. I hope no one is offended by the mentions of him.

Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed! I love you all. (If I haven't replied yet, I will do so ASAP)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 6 - Trial and error.

After the huge set back that was Draco's first day, things began to run smoothly at Aurors. He'd only crashed his computer 4 times, and he reasoned that over the course of a month - 4 times really wasn't a lot. He'd only double booked Harry's appointments once, and he had only sugared the brunette's tea twice.

He was doing fabulously as a working member of society, which was a personal achievement considering the only jobs he'd had previously were; a week as a barman at a club when he was 18 - he was fired because he kept giving Pansy free drinks. 9 days as a mobile phone salesman when he was 19 - he was fired for telling a customer to wait whilst he was road testing a new model…he was talking to Pansy on his mobile. And he had the imaginary position with Pansy's design company that they created for his C.V.

Not exactly great. So, Draco was overjoyed by the fact he had now been working for a whole month without any huge mishaps - A fact that needed to be celebrated.

The only drawback was that Harry wasn't in the office today. He'd told Draco that his diary was to remain clear for the entire day, and that he had no idea when he'd be in - if he came in at all.

So, as with every instance you'd like time to speed up - it sloooowed right down. The day was simply crawling by, and Draco cursed his luck that he hadn't skived off work like Harry was so obviously doing.

Harry.

Draco frowned as he thought the other man's name, and his teeth gnawed a little at his bottom lip. The brunette, who had been entirely easy going and quite entertaining when they had first met, had kind of withdrawn into himself. It was odd to say the least.

Draco had never seen Harry eat, had never seen him out of the office - he was like a machine who never slept, and he was constantly distracted. More than a few times had Draco spotted the other man simply staring into space or at the demon file that had caused so much grief on his first day.

Curiosity like none Draco had ever experienced ignited every time his eyes landed on the mysterious red folder, and it was all he could do not to try and get a sneaky glimpse at what was so important about it.

Harry kind of put him off that urge though, especially after the way he had blown up at Hermione's husband - The Weasel Man - when he had been summoned by Hermione to talk with Harry.

The guy had walked in, his face almost as red as his hair, and had proceeded to barge into Harry's office. One may have suspected that someone had set of a load of fireworks inside the office when they had begun shouting at one another…Draco would never forget the classic argument that had exploded from Harry's mouth from behind his closed door.

Apparently his friends were a little overbearing. Draco came to that conclusion when Harry had yelled at the gangly ginger man that they would probably want to hold his hand whilst he were wanking if he'd let them.

Draco had been totally turned on by the fact that Harry was talking about that kind of act, but grossed out by the fact that Harry was talking about that kind of act with the ugly Weasel Man. I'll hold your hand Harry! Fuck that, I'll hold your…

"Draco, can you 'elp me with this box please? Eet is very 'eavy" Fleur's voice floated through Draco's reverie, cutting off the direction of his thoughts.

Shaking his head at his ever increasing lewd fantasies, Draco chivalrously relieved Fleur of the box she was holding and subtly rolled his eyes when he realised how light it actually was.

"Where to, beautiful?" He asked, and she headed toward the filing room, Draco trailing behind.

Fleur, Draco had surmised, was exceptionally good at the whole damsel in distress routine. In the month he had been working at Aurors, he had yet to see her carry, fetch or deliver anything. Every single male in the office was at her absolute disposal, offering to do the most meagre of tasks for her, even going so far as to go to the Starbucks across the street to grab her which ever beverage she fancied that day.

Draco was utterly surprised to find that was also susceptible to Fleur's charms, and he often found himself doing errands for her without even realising it. The woman was completely lethal.

He watched her as she walked ahead of him, her navy blue high-waisted pencil skirt clinging to her perfectly sculptured hour glass frame, cutting off just below her knees revealing defined calves and the most fantastic pair of peep toe stilettos. Draco had to hand it to her - the woman knew how to work a good pair of heels.

Her hips swung in the most hypnotising fashion that made even Draco feel slightly aroused, and he couldn't think of anything worse than fancying a woman. He felt completely sorry for the straight males who had to watch her shimmying around all day. They must never get any work done!

"Just over there." She purred as he walked through the door she held open for him, pointing toward the second aisle in the filing room. "Are you busy? Would you like to 'elp?" She asked, fluttering her long eyelashes that simply had to be false.

Draco, who had very little to do without Harry around, smirked at the blonde woman. "Ooh, sounds like fun. There is absolutely nothing I'd like more than to do your filing." He said sarcastically, a small grin on his face as he reached for the first file at the top of the box.

"Thank you, Draco. You are most generous." Fleur replied, rolling her eyes, also reaching for a file to put away. "So, you 'ave 'it your first month mark. Are you liking eet 'ere?" She asked, resting her right shoulder against the shelves beside her, crossing her arms and cocking her head to the side.

Draco shook his head slightly at her subtle attempt to get out of the job she was supposed to be doing, and he seized 2 more folders from the box and held one out for her, one of his eyebrows rising a little. Fleur tutted and pursed her lips sullenly as she took the folder from him.

"Yes, I do like it here, which is quite surprising. I thought I'd end up blowing the computer up by now, but it's still springing to life every morning and expecting me to remember how to use it." Draco laughed, handing another file to Fleur to prevent her from slacking.

The French woman apparently accepted the fact that he wasn't going to do the job by himself and began helping, albeit with a slight sulk. "I'm sure 'Arry makes it all worth while." She said slyly, her eyes trained on the shelf before her; however a smile pulled at the corner of her glossy lips. "'E is a very nice boss, not at all as demanding as 'Ermione." She added with distaste.

Draco laughed. It was true; Harry really was the ideal boss. He didn't ask for much - just the occasional cup of tea and the odd file. Hermione expected Fleur to collect her dry cleaning which Draco found plain lazy.

"Where is 'Arry today? I 'ave not seen 'im at all. Is 'e sick?" Fleur asked, concern colouring her tone. For some reason it irritated Draco that the blonde woman sounded so interested in Harry's whereabouts.

"He's O.K. I'm not sure where he is, he didn't say. He just told me that his diary had to stay clear for the whole day." Draco informed, his own curiosity prickling.

"Hmm." Fleur frowned, one of perfectly manicured hands brushing a stray curl that had fallen against her cheek back behind her ear. Understanding sparkled in her eyes. "Eet is 'alloween today, no?" She purred, with the air of someone who already knew the answer to the question they asked.

Draco laughed at her random musings. "Oh, does Harry turn into a vampire on Halloween, then?" He asked, shaking his head causing Fleur to once again roll her eyes.

"No, silly boy. Harry doesn't like 'alloween. 'Ermione says zat eet is best not to mention eet to 'im. I think zat is why we don't celebrate eet 'ere." The blonde woman said with a shrug, and Draco frowned as he gazed at her.

Harry didn't like Halloween? What a random holiday to dislike. Yes, it was annoying having trick or treaters knocking your door and having the odd egg thrown at your house, but it wasn't so bad that it warranted being completely ignored.

"Why doesn't he like it?" Draco asked, abandoning the filing and turning to Fleur. He wondered if this was the reason Harry had been so distracted.

Fleur shrugged, the sparkling silver necklace that lay against her chest glinting as it caught the light, drawing his eyes to her bust where a mass of clear gems and charms hung from the chain. For some unknown reason, Draco was reminded of Harry's glasses as he gazed at the silver accessory which ultimately led to him thinking of the brunettes emerald eyes. Gorgeous emerald eyes…

When the French woman cleared her throat, Draco's eyes snapped back up to her face to find her smiling in amusement and he suddenly realised how it may have looked. "I…I was just…your necklace…" He stuttered, pointing to the chain feeling like a complete idiot. Caught staring at a woman's chest? Oh, the shame!

Fleur laughed, shaking her head at Draco's bashfulness. "Don't worry. If zere is anyone in zis office zat I would believe when zey say zat - eet is you." She chuckled, shaking her head slightly as Draco's nose wrinkled. "And, no. I don't know why 'Arry dislikes 'alloween. 'e is always grouchy, though."

"Grouchy?" Draco asked, curiosity washing over him. How strange.

"Why are you so interested?" Fleur asked with a smirk, her gaze focusing on Draco's teeth as they begun worrying his bottom lip.

"I'm not!" Draco said in a rush, his face instantly heating up, undoubtedly giving him away. "I just don't want to put my foot in it again."

Fleur stepped up to him and planted a hand on either side of his face, a disbelieving expression on her own. "Draco, I know ze look of a smitten man -" She begun with a smile, when the sound of the door opening cut her off.

Draco's eyes widened as Harry walked passed the aisle they were standing in, glancing as he passed and grinding to a halt when he spotted the pair. His confused eyes danced over Fleur and her hands resting on Draco's cheeks, and he cleared his throat uncomfortably.

His face screamed stress, his eyes ever so slightly red, and Draco was instantly struck by the impression that Harry had been crying. But then he reasoned that the redness could easily be put down to exhaustion. The brunette seemed a little lost for words as he gazed at the pair, and he closed his eyes briefly as though he were embarrassed.

"Sorry to interrupt… I didn't realise the two of you…" He trailed off, pulling at the knot of the silk lilac tie that hung around his neck as his eye flickered between the two blondes.

"You're back." Draco said, a smile springing to his face without his permission, and he wished that Fleur would release his face from her grip. He physically felt the woman's ego swell when he acknowledged Harry's presence and he figured that he sounded far too happy for the brunette to be back in the office.

"Yes, only just. I…erm…I was just…going to tell you that you can call it a day, Draco, but I…if you…well, it's up to you…I'll just -" He said pointing toward the exit, his eyes looking anywhere but Draco's face, before spinning around and disappearing behind the shelves and out of the door.

Draco wondered what the hell had just happened as he listened to the door swing shut. He glanced at Fleur who was frowning at him, and he shrugged his arms at the question in her eyes. Her hands fell from his face and rested on her hips. "Zat was weird." She stated, turning back toward the box of files. "'e looked a bit ruffled."

Draco eyes travelled from Fleur to the end of the aisle and his hand tugged at his blonde hair. "Hey, you don't think he thought you and I were…?" He asked the French woman, his finger flicking back and forth between them as he mulled over his own question.

Did Harry think he had stumbled upon them during an intimate moment? He had seemed quite perturbed by the sight of Draco closeness to Fleur…

Was Harry attracted to Fleur? That would explain why he had been so awkward. In fact, now that he thought about it, Harry spent a lot of time with his eyes on Fleur's desk, a small frown always playing around his eyes on the occasions that Draco had been sat with her. At first, Draco thought the other man was just annoyed that Draco wasn't at his own work station, but maybe the brunette was actually unhappy because Draco was sat with Fleur...

"What? In ze midst of a tryst?" Fleur interrupted his musings with a laugh, and she once again began pulling files from the box and placing them on the shelf before her.

Draco bit his lip slightly as the urge to follow Harry engulfed him. He really didn't want Harry to think that he had been doing anything other than filing with Fleur. Draco felt it was absolutely necessary to make sure the brunette knew this.

"Look, I'm going to see if he needs anything." Draco muttered, and he tried to ignore the smirk she directed at him upon his announcement. He made his way out of the room, ignoring Fleur's tinkling laugh that followed him.

Draco paced over to Harry's office, an odd sense of foreboding that he didn't understand settling over him. He was a little disappointed at the thought of Harry liking Flirty Fleur. He had been almost inclined to believe that Harry was…not quite on the straight and narrow. Figures! The decent guys were always straight!

"Hey, would you like a cup of tea?" Draco asked as he halted at Harry's open door, leaning against the frame, hoping to appear nonchalant.

Harry, who was leaning over his desk with his back to the door, spun around and faced the blonde. He had the air of trouble man, and Draco wasn't fooled by the forced smile that spread its way across his pale exhausted face.

"No, I'm good thanks." He said, his eyes skittering over Draco's face before he turned his face away, walking around his desk and shuffling at some papers on the surface, his attempt at being nonchalant igniting a flame of curiosity inside Draco.

"You don't have to stay, you're free to go." Harry murmured distractedly, his eyes looking anywhere but Draco "I'm sure you have plans seeing as it's…erm…Halloween." He shrugged stiffly.

"Look, Fleur and I aren't…we were just filing…I don't - If you're worried about inter-office relationships or anything -" Draco announced.

Although the need to get the point across that he and Fleur had a purely platonic relationship was strong, he was beginning to get the feeling that Harry's demeanour and obvious stress was down to more than just the encounter in the filing room.

Harry shook his head absent-mindedly, still keeping his eyes on the mess he had made of his desk as he shuffled papers about. "We don't forbid inter-office relationships. We just ask that you're discreet. Fleur-"

"Isn't my type." Draco blurted suddenly. "I have no designs on her…" He added quietly, worrying that he may have sounded a tad desperate as he tried to get his point across. Surely, you have realised by now, Harry! I'm gay!

Harry glanced up, his expression portraying surprised disbelief "'Perfect' isn't your type?" He mumbled, his eyes once again avoiding the blonde man.

Oh, perfect is my type!…YOU!!! "My idea of perfect is probably a little different from yours." Draco smiled humourlessly, his hand itching to run through his hair; however he kept it fixed at his side.

"Yeah." Harry whispered, and a small sigh escaped him as he dropped into his seat. He appeared to have given up on his' looking busy' charade and his face crumpled slightly. Draco was very aware of how vulnerable Harry looked with his shoulders hunched and his head bowed.

Turning and closing the door behind him, Draco then approached Harry's desk, an odd concern for the other man washing over him. "Harry, are you O.K?" He asked gently.

"I'm fine; I've just had a bad day." Harry said forcefully, as though he were trying to convince himself more than Draco. He seemed to realise how brusque his tone was, because when he glanced up his expression portrayed guilt. "Sorry." He muttered, running a hand over his tired face with a sigh. "So, do you have any plans tonight? I expect you're quite the social butterfly." He said with a small smile, changing the subject.

Unease swept over Draco and he wasn't quite sure how to respond. Fleur had said that it was best not to talk about Halloween with the brunette, but what was he supposed to do when Harry brought the subject up?

Draco shrugged offhandedly. "Erm, myself and the girl I live with, Pansy, are going to The Ministry. They're having a fancy dress thing." he said in a disinterested tone. He was in fact quite looking forward to it; however he felt the need to downplay it. His stomach clenched a little as he watched Harry's eyes dim a little.

"Ah, I expect Pansy must be stunning if she won out over Fleur." he murmured, a polite smile sliding onto his lips.

Draco reluctantly smiled. "I'll ask her fiancé…although I'm sure he'll agree. I've seen Pansy with her hair resembling a birds nest and morning breath - so, I'm inclined to say no." he said, his arms folding across his chest as he rested his thighs against the edge of Harry's desk.

The brunette heaved a short grunt of amusement; however his aura still screamed vulnerability. Draco stepped away from the desk and sank into one of the chairs behind him. He had the distinct feeling that Harry needed to talk, and although Draco was only his P.A, he felt that if he waited long enough - Harry would open up.

The brunette's head fell back against the leather chair, and his eyes slid closed tiredly. Draco's gaze rested on Harry's exposed neck, and he watched his Adam's apple slide against his throat as he swallowed agonisingly hard.

"Draco, have you ever worked really hard for something…spent so long focused on a goal…and then when you reached it - it didn't turn out how you expected?" Harry asked, and Draco was unsettled at the amount of undisguised torment in his voice. A crippling desire to say something that would bring back the sparkly Harry he had first met and make this gloomy Harry disappear washed over him, and the pressure made him speak the truth.

"Yes, I have." He whispered softly, and he shook his head before he became lost in thought of the past. He refused to think about the goal he had strived towards only to fall at the last hurdle.

Harry's eyes snapped open and his gaze centred on Draco. "How did you deal with that?" he asked softly.

"I found a new goal." Draco shrugged, his hand brushing against the hair at the base of his neck uncomfortably.

"Yeah." Harry breathed to himself, his gaze moving toward the ceiling as he sucked in a deep breath "If only it were that easy…"

Silence settled over them and Draco could tell that Harry wasn't done; he knew that the brunette had more to say. He had no idea how he knew this, but he did. After a few minutes of waiting, Draco's patience paid off.

"I met a man today…his name's Tom." Harry whispered, his focus far off as though he were seeing something that Draco couldn't. His tone was so quiet that he was barely audible, and Draco literally had to lean forward to hear him. "I always thought that when we met… it would change everything…-"

Draco's mouth went dry when he noticed the glassiness of Harry's stare, and as much as he didn't want to believe it, he was sure that Harry was trying not to cry. The door crashing open caused both men to jump, and Draco watched as Harry's vulnerability instantly disappeared behind his façade of distraction.

"You're here! I've been calling you all day." Hermione's voice exclaimed from behind Draco and the blonde felt his lip curl. Bloody woman!

He watched her pace across the office and around Harry's desk, where she proceeded to brush her hand through his hair in a mothering way. A little of the loathing Draco felt toward the bushy haired woman evaporated as he watched the tentative moment that was exchanged between the two friends. Harry even seemed to welcome the small moment of contact, and his eyes fell closed as Hermione leant down and kissed the top of his ruffled hair. "Are you O.K?" She asked softly, pulling Harry's face round so that she could peer into his eyes. "You look tired. Bad day?" She asked knowingly.

"Something like that." Harry replied with a sigh, his gaze flickering to Draco, a meaningful look passing between them.

Reluctantly, because Draco really wanted Harry to continue talking to him- continue the small amount of trust that he was displaying to the blonde, he stood and took his cue to leave.

"I'll leave you guys to it." He breathed, and he didn't miss Harry relax ever so slightly when he realised that Draco had understood. Harry didn't want Hermione included in the conversation they had been having. Hermione, who was busy glancing at some of the papers on Harry's desk as she played with his hair affectionately, missed the comforting smile that Draco directed at Harry, which suited the blonde. The fact that Harry glanced at Hermione's apparent distraction and shyly returned it caused a flurry of butterflies to erupt inside Draco's stomach.

"I hope you have a good time…at your fancy dress thing." Harry's voice floated toward him as he approached the door, and although his tone was steady and controlled, Draco detected sincerity.

"Thank you." Draco smiled as he glanced over his shoulder "If you need anything…"

"I'll get it myself." Harry smiled the first genuine smile Draco had seen all day, and the blonde was momentarily lost in it as Harry added softly "Have fun, Draco"

"He fancies Flirty Fleur, Pans. It's so obvious, you should have seen his face when he saw us together - I thought he was going to cry." Draco moaned from his perch on the kitchen counter top, the ice cold glass of Vodka and lemonade that he held in his hand calming him slightly.

Pansy, who was already pretty tipsy, was stood on the opposite side of the room, gazing at her reflection in the oven door as she aimed a can of hairspray at her wild hair, trying to achieve the look of Madonna from her 'Like a Virgin' days. Tonight's 80s themed Halloween party was going to cause the atmosphere to choke on the toxic hairstyling fumes.

"Who do you think this Tom guy is? Maybe that's why he was upset." She hiccupped. After Draco had explained the events of the day, Pansy hadn't been as intrigued as Draco had been. She was only really interested in where Fleur may have gotten her necklace from.

"I don't know, but I've got a weird feeling it has something to do with that file I told you about. It's all really odd." He murmured, chewing his lip. He had thought of nothing but Harry and his odd behaviour since he had left the office, and he was beginning to think in circles.

"Ooh, how very cryptic." Pansy said, her chocolate eyes twinkling as she sucked on her straw.

A knock at the door drew both of their gazes toward the front door, and Draco hopped down from the counter to go and answer it. "It's nice to know you're taking it seriously." he complained sullenly as he passed the sniggering 'Queen of Pop' wannabe.

Draco swung the front door open with a sulking expression, and he managed to keep a straight face when he came face to face with the 'King of Pop'.

"Billie Jean doesn't live here." Draco said dryly, as he took in Blaise, clad in Thriller style red leather jacket, trousers, white socks and glove. His expression was utterly unimpressed.

"Ha ha, excuse me whilst I vomit with hilarity." He sniped, before his eyes swept over Draco's sullen face and formal work clothes. "Eugh, who are you going as - Your father?" Blaise smirked, causing Draco to blanch.

"Funny!" The blonde said sarcastically, pulling the door wide to let Blaise pass, exchanging a manly pat on the back that was Blaise' way of display affection.

"Seriously, who are you going as?" The black man asked as they made their way into the kitchen, where he promptly headed to Pansy, cuddling her from behind and kissing the base of her neck, receiving a face full of hairspray for his troubles. "Jesus, Tracy Turnblad - enough Hairspray there?" he scolded as he stumbled backwards, rubbing his eyes.

Draco, who entered the room just in time to see Blaise being blinded, laughed and shook his head disappointedly. "You're moonwalk is terrible, Blaise."

Blaise glared at the blonde, albeit with streaming eyes, and hurried toward the sink where began rinsing the hairspray from his face.

Pansy stood behind him with her hand clamped over her mouth as she silently pissed herself with laughter, and Draco bit his lip to stop himself from joining her. She really was the cruellest fiancée.

"Draco's going as David Bowie." She announced, trying to move the focus away from Blaise and his inevitable whine fest.

Draco, sensing the same scenario, joined in the banter. "Yeah, I'm being styled after Madonna has finished destroying the O-zone layer." He laughed, which only increased when Pansy glared at him for mentioning the hairspray.

Blaise, who seemed to have salvaged his sight, dried his face and scowled at his bride to be. "Well, it's lovely to know that you were so worried about my health. Thanks a bunch for your concern." He huffed, rolling his eyes as Pansy began laughing.

"So, what's the latest on - Draco: Working girl?" Blaise asked dramatically as he raided the fridge for a bottle of beer.

Draco and Pansy exchange an amused glance, knowing that Blaise was always quick to forgive and forget, and his statement was something very typical of Blaise. He lived under the assumption that because Draco was gay he belonged to the cast of Sex and the City.

"Firstly, working girl makes me sound like a prostitute, and secondly…don't call an effing girl Blaise… Because I'm bad…I'm bad…you know it." Draco announced, causing Pansy to cackle and Blaise to tut.

"Oh, that's going to get old real quick." He muttered to himself.

"The job's going well…" Draco began, only to be cut off by Pansy as she sidled over to Draco, who was sat back on the counter top, and began applying his eye make-up with a steadier hand than one might expect a lush to have.

"Hey Blaise, we think that Draco's boss is a bit of a fruit loop." She cried, her bright eyes peering into Draco's with amusement as she aimed the eyeliner pencil at his eyeball.

"No, we don't." He growled, glaring at the woman before him, fearing for his vision. One false move and he'd be blinded, and she had already displayed by spraying Blaise and laughing about it, that she took no prisoners

"He's just a bit stressed out." He added, directing his focus to Blaise who was wincing unhelpfully as her hand drew closer to Draco's face. "You know what, I think I'll do the eyeliner." he exclaimed, snatching the pencil from her hand and peering into the stainless steel kettle beside him.

Pansy, using Draco's moment of distraction to her advantage, swiped his drink and began emptying it of its contents. "Stressed out…mental - same thing." She mumbled an obvious smile in her voice.

"What do you mean 'mental'? What's he done?" Blaise' concerned voice punctured the air, and Draco paused in his actions and glanced at the other man.

"Ignore her, he hasn't done anything except be a nice guy." The blonde said exasperatedly, turning back to finish his make-up.

"Good, I would hate to have to go over there and bitch slap him." Blaise announced, and once again Draco had to stop what he was doing, only this time it was because he was laughing. Pansy, too, burst into a fit of laughter as she came to inspect Draco's handy work.

"Listen to him! What next Blaisey? Are you going to Heal the World?" She chortled, dragging her thumb across Draco's lower eye lid to remove a smudge. "Right, well, whilst the Smooth Criminal over there gets himself at it, you go and get your costume on, we have to leave soon." She sniggered, pulling Draco down from the counter.

"Yeah, get a move on Major Tom. Commencing countdown, engines on…" Blaise laughed to himself, and Pansy and Draco took a moment to bestow him with a pitying glance.

"Yeah, it's not funny when you do it." Draco said dryly before leaving the kitchen. He had to chuckle to himself when he heard Pansy's croon of 'Oh, I think you're funny even if no one else does.' The woman really knew how to boost a guy's ego.

"Cheer up, for fuck sake." Blaise called into Draco's ear as they stood at the bar in The Ministry. They had been at the party for 3 hours by this point, and Pansy, who was completely wrecked, was currently gyrating on a podium nearby, wailing 'It's me' every time a Madonna song was played. It was safe to say that Draco had had enough.

"I am cheerful." He said sarcastically, ordering a round of drinks from a barman dressed like George Michael of Wham fame. Draco shuddered at the pitifully short shorts he had no doubt been forced to wear. The guy looked as though he was having as good a night as Draco was.

"Well, can you send that memo to your face because you look like someone's kicked your grandmother." Blaise complained, knocking back a shot whilst his eyes flickered toward his wasted fiancée.

Draco threw back his own measure of alcohol, his eyes sweeping from Pansy and then to Blaise, at which point the proceeded to grin toothily in obvious sarcasm.

"So, how are things really going at work? Do you like it?" Blaise sighed, shaking his head as Pansy began whooping rather loudly, shedding any shred of dignity she had left.

"It's a pretty good job actually. Harry's a great boss." Draco replied, smiling at his friend's antics. He knew it was only a matter of time before she threw up, he just hoped it didn't happen whilst she was on the podium with a crowd of people below her.

"This Harry dude, he's not like…" Blaise begun and sensing the direction of the black man's thoughts, Draco cut him off.

"He's completely different. He's a good guy…" Draco said, only to finish the statement with a frown. Yes, Harry was a good guy, but the blonde had the distinct feeling that the solicitor was involved in something that wasn't…good.

"What's wrong?" Blaise asked, picking up on Draco's unease. His friend did what he always did in a situation that he wasn't entirely comfortable with, but at the same time wanting to show that he was being at tentative.

Blaise squeezed his shoulder…hard.

Wincing a little, Draco replied. "Today was just a little odd. He wanted to tell me something but The Weasel Woman came in, and he was upset because he caught me and Flirty Fleur…"

"What do you think he wanted to tell you?" Blaise asked with an interested frown.

"I don't know, but I think it was important." The blonde said, and any other information he could have supplied was drowned out when Pansy stumbled over to them. Her hair smelling suspiciously like vomit.

"Blaise, take me home and Rock My World" She cackled, slumping against her fiancé who quickly turned his nose away from her.

"Eugh, surely you guys have run out of song references by now, and Pans - you reek." He cried, pulling her to arms length to avoid the smell of her from clinging to his hired costume.

"Are they making you want to Scream, Blaise?" Draco asked with a grin, only to receive a glare in response.

"Ha ha, Beat It! " The black man supplied, before pulling Pansy in the direction of the unisex toilets. "Give me a hand." He said to the blonde, who reluctantly followed.

As Draco turned to follow them, he ploughed straight into a woman who smelled as though she had bathed in perfume and he wasn't quick enough to catch her before she tumbled to the ground. Feeling immensely guilty for his actions, Draco held out a hand to her, repeating a few times how sorry he was.

When the woman was on her feet, a supreme look of indignation spread across her face, her scarlet lips curling in distaste as she glared at him.

"You want to watch wear you're going, you vile little cretin." She spat, her brassy blonde hair sticking to her face as various different drinks that had been spilled from the tumble began to drip from it. "Look what you've done to my hair."

Any sympathy that Draco had felt for her was quickly replaced by outrage. "I've done you a favour, at least now it's intentionally tragic, rather than just a bottle blonde mess." He jeered, before turning from her and following Pansy and Blaise towards the toilets.

Absolute indignation crashed over him as he made his way into the pretentious attempt at controversy that was the club's unisex lavatories, and he found Blaise trying not to gag as he held Pansy's hair back whilst she vomited into the toilet bowl.

Taking pity on his friend, Draco pulled the weak stomached man out of the way and replaced him at Pansy's side, rubbing her back as he muttered about stupid bleach blonde's whilst his friend emptied the contents of her stomach - Draco was so annoyed that he didn't even so much as flinch.

"Draco, I think I'm ill." Pansy wept pitifully after a stretch of dry heaves, and Draco estimated that the worst was over with and that they could probably move her now.

"Blaise, do you want to lift her out whilst I…try and not throw up." The blonde said, edging his way out of the cubicle, the smell of sick finally getting to him, and he began pushing on cubicle doors in an attempt to find an empty one.

When one eventually swung open it revealed a woman with her head hanging over the bowl, much like Pansy's had been, but Draco was very aware of how different the comparison actually was.

The rolled up £20 note that was being held to the blonde woman's nose, and the rows of white powder that lined the toilet seat made it very clear how different her activity was to Pansy's, and Draco hastily went to pull the door closed.

His eyes, however, lingered on the woman's yellowish hair, and the distinct smell of perfume invaded Draco's senses, causing Draco to sneer.

"And you called me a vile little cretin; well I'm not the one in the gutter, am I?" He said, his tone revolted before slamming the door shut.

"Come on -" He said to Blaise who had come to stand beside him, a sleeping Pansy in his arms. "- this place has just lost its appeal."

To Be Continued…

A/N (again): I was soooo excited when I saw the new Harry Potter posters the other day, that I was almost run over when I saw one on bus shelter and ran across the road to look at it!!! Anyway, has anyone seen the Harry and Draco one??? It's like Warner Bros have finally realised they are meant to be together! I'm so excited, that I'm actually planning on stealing it from the cinema where it is being displayed in all its Drarry glory. So, if I don't update - I'm rotting away in prison….lol.

P.S, for anyone who doesn't know yet - I have my Harry Potter tickets Wooooo! So, on July 15th at 1pm (BST) I, Victoria Hart, will be at the Odeon cinema, screen 3, row C, premier seat 15 watching the film that I have waited forever to see! Wooooooooo! Lol.