Chapter 2:

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Secret Diary of a Call Girl etc.

Harry was more than aware of the looks that the other guests had been casting them for most of the evening and how no one had come to ask Severus about his young companion. He could see how weary people around the older man, and that no one other than Lucius had approached them all night. Severus seemed to be a formidable man and they stayed out of his path. He had a reputation, the kind of reputation that took a lifetime to lay the groundwork of. It made the mystery of who the older man really was even more interesting and Harry loved a good mystery. He really could see that some of the guests might even be scared of him. What had Severus done to instill such a grandiose sense of fear in his peers, and why did it affect everyone except Lucius Malfoy?

"Why are people so afraid of you," Harry asked curiously.

"Are they? I don't even notice at this point."

"So why?" Harry pushed on.

"I have a not so pleasant past. When I was younger and full of anger I got mixed up in some stuff I shouldn't have. I am also not known to be the nicest man in the world. I have little tolerance for ignorance. Some might say that I am a cruel man," Severus said slightly amused. "I assure you I find little pleasure in it, I just find less pleasure in my peers."

People seemed to cast him even more apologetic glances the more the night went on. When Severus excused himself to use the restroom one brave soul decided to approach him at the food table while he was replacing his glass of champagne with a glass of sparkling cider. The man looked to be about the same age as Severus maybe a few years younger and Harry knew he was going to try to hit on him before he even opened his mouth. He determined that the best way to deal with it was to try and avoid the situation altogether. Normally he wouldn't mind playing the game, but not tonight, it just wasn't the right time. He was too enamored with Severus to play games with some twat who had, had too much to drink at a party. Quickly grabbing his drink he retreated back to his and Severus' little corner of the balcony.

He lit a cigarette and waited on his date to return to him. He could see the man speaking in hushed tones with Lucius Malfoy about something, something that probably consisted of telling the man off for hiring an escort. It didn't seem as though he was ashamed to have been given Harry, but he wasn't pleased with being undermined. He knew that Severus was a proud man and Lucius had crossed some sort of line that pride had previously set. He wished that Severus was a bit more readable. He could read the things that were on the outside he just couldn't piece together why. Typically his clients were open books without ever meaning to be.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Severus' silky voice asked invaded his thoughts.

"Ah, no sorry," Harry fumbled over his words.

"Where were we?"

"Nowhere in particular."

"So what are the requirements for your field of work then?" Severus continued on his string of questions.

"Some would say things like charm, patience, stamina, and well a sizable asset," Harry winked.

"Indeed," Severus replied with a hint of amusement.

"Would you like to get out of here?" Harry asked surveying the crowd.

"I wouldn't be averse to such an idea. I'll get our coats shall I?" he asked receiving a nod in reply.

After Severus gave the slip to Lucius they found themselves wandering down a street that seemed to be laced with drunken celebrators. Everyone coming together to face the new years together. Midnight was still roughly two hours away and with all of the shops closed for the holiday they gave up on finding an open shop in which to buy coffee and headed back to the hotel. They opted out of going back to the party and headed to Severus' suite instead. He took his coat off and tossed it on the back of the chair and sat on the bed while Severus was busy looking through the various drawers and desks in search of a room service menu.

"Not quite how I imagined spending the new year," Severus said pulling out the menu from one of the drawers next to the mini fridge.

"Hopefully I'm an improvement from your previous plans," Harry teased.

"Leaps and bounds," he said handing him the menus. "Order whatever you like, it's on Lucius' tab."

After ordering a very expensive tray of chips and pizza that they shared they found themselves watching television. They were both sprawled across the bed, and Harry found it funny that even Severus' closest of friends had probably never seen the man relaxed. He even felt like if the man were to get completely pissed he'd still be calm and composed. He was very in control of who he is was and had a very good handle on how others perceived him. He kind of envied the man, but he knew there was way more than what met the eye in this situation. Once you got the hang of it people seemed to be so easy to pick apart, but not in this case. Severus' guard was up and wasn't about to be let down.

Severus wasn't an attractive man by today's standards, but Harry found him handsome in a completely untraditional way. He had pale skins that he was sure would be translucent if you held his arm up in the sunlight. He was thin, but he could tell that underneath the layers the man was in shape. He had a body that any man could envy. He had long black hair that was tied back with a black band which matched his all black attire. Who could blame the man for dressing entirely in black when it suited him so well. He had black eyes that could pierce through even the toughest of exteriors. Not to mention how intelligent he was, and how he didn't babble on about things that didn't matter or were uninteresting. Harry found himself hanging on the man's every word.

"So you don't have a family, but what about your friends? How do you explain this to them?" Severus continued to probe.

"Mostly, they're away at University, and when they're home I clear as much of my schedule as I can for them. They think I work nights at a shop."

"And I imagine being an heir explains away any money or expenses."

"It's a good enough excuse, but I haven't really spent a penny of it except to buy my flat in London. I've never really had a home and that's all I really wanted out of it."

"I can relate I'm afraid. The money is a nice security net but it doesn't make up for not having a family."

"Yeah, I agree," Harry sighed.

"Do you not worry about getting a client that is rough, or abusive?"

"It's part of the job and usually we call the agency and we have a system set up. It's not a full proof plan, but if something feels wrong from the start I usually just leave," he shrugged.

"Just to be clear, I have no intentions of sleeping with you tonight," Severus said suddenly.

"I had of course pieced that much together, not everyone I'm hired by does sleep with me."

"What are your top three type of jobs then?" Severus asked quickly.

"There's what I like to call the BFE which is the boy friend experience. It's all the pros of having a relationship without the commitment. It's usually a date, a chat, a fuck and a cuddle. Sometimes without the fuck," Harry explained. "Two would just be sex, full blown sex with or without kinks. And third are usually lonely guys who just want a bit of company and a chat. Maybe an evening out."

"So would you ever give it up?" Severus fished further.

"If I met the right guy and I fell in love with him I definitely would."

"Can you, have you dated anyone while working this job?"

"No, I don't think it would be fair to them. Which kind of complicates the falling in love bit. I mean there are some guys that would be okay with it, but it would just blur the lines I think," Harry thoughtfully replied.

"Have you ever fallen for a client?" Severus asked and Harry thought he saw a brief flash of something behind the man's eyes.

"That would be breaking the cardinal rule," he said lightly.

"Which is?"

"Don't fall in love with the client. It's hard for some escorts to do when they first start out. Most of the clients are so nice and they treat you well, but then you have to remember you're being paid to be there," he answered matter-of-factly.

The only problem with the cardinal rule was what were you supposed to do when someone had started to blur the lines for you? He found himself slightly enamored with Severus and he tried to shut down any of those kinds of thoughts before they surfaced, but it didn't change how he was starting to feel. The further the night progressed the more caught up in the web he had started to fall into he became. He'd never of course say anything of the sort to Severus, because well the man may seem interested in him, but after all it was another job and from their introduction if the man had his way he would have never been hired in the first place. Things were starting to get complicated, he wouldn't say love, but he didn't think that Severus would be someone he'd like to spend time with outside the 'workplace.' Whether the man felt the same was to be a mystery.

Before he knew it the clock started ringing in the new year, and he could hear the cheers of various people on the streets and around them. Severus suggested a New Year's kiss was in order and when their lips met he kind of felt the that little charge of electricity you get from kissing someone you really like. He continued to quell the feeling in his stomach and any thoughts that might come with it and accepted the glass of champagne that Severus had poured for him. The man stated he knew he didn't drink on the job, but it was New Years after all and a little celebration did seem to be in order.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews you guys! I hope you enjoyed this update.