Chapter 9:

8 years ago

The pain seared through him like it was branding him from the inside out. He was sure his head was about to split open and in fact he may even have welcomed it. Then the pressure vanished as quickly as it had set in, leaving Harry to sink to his feet on the cold marble of the great hall. He knew what was next, it was always the same every single time. Lily Potter, James by her side were closest and then Sirius and Remus with Tonks still clutching his hand even in death. He managed to make it to his feet, stumbling away from the bodies of Colin and Lavender, he steeled himself as he passed Fred, only the shell of the young man he had been. The second he stepped out of the giant wooden doors his scar began to burn again. He couldn't help it, he clenched his fists and dropped to his knees again, screaming like the mad man that he was.

"Harry!" called a voice from somewhere in the haze. Someone was gripping his arm, firm but gentle, grounding him as the voice called for him again. Harry sat up straight, shivering and reaching around for the covers. They were pooled at his feet. They wouldn't have been any good anyway since they were probably damp with his sweat. "Harry, you're alright," Draco whispered again and this time Harry felt him shift closer.

"I'm up," he managed to rasp.

There was a pause before he heard the other man let out a sigh of relief. "Thank Merlin for that," Draco muttered and all of a sudden Harry was being drawn into a firm chest. He turned into the touch instinctively, revelling in the feel of Draco's hands carding through his hair. Closing his eyes, he focused on the steady thrumming of his boyfriend's heart.

"Do you want to talk about it, love?" Draco asked. The hands massaging his scalp paused and Harry let out a grunt of indignation. Draco chuckled but obliged and if Harry practically purred leaning even further into him well there was no one else around to hear it. "Was it the same as always?"

Harry nodded. He traced patterns against the pale chest he was leaning against, letting his fingers brush ever so lightly against the cool skin. Draco tensed at first before letting out a soft sigh, melting under Harry's touch. He needed this, he needed to touch and feel, not just Draco's warmth but the life still in him.

It had been happening a lot more than usual ever since he'd started accepting the Death Eater jobs. He knew it wasn't fair on Draco. The first time it had happened Draco had tried to wake him up by simply shaking him awake. It ended with Draco slammed against the bedpost, Harry's wand at his throat and a spell on his lips. Ever since then Draco had learned to wake him from afar. He'd rush in as soon as Harry was lucid enough to gather what was going on and then they would lie together. Harry never felt safer than in those moments spent in Draco's arms. Draco would hold him until Harry fell asleep again, listening to the thrum of his heart and when Harry had tried to thank him for it the next day he simply shook his head, jaw set firm and tight.

He knew it wasn't fair on Draco, so he tried a Dreamless Sleep potion.

When he found out Draco was furious. It had led to one of the biggest rows they had ever had and ended with Draco flinging the vial at the stone fireplace where it shattered. They both cleaned up the mess and Draco apologized later but not before he made Harry promise to never use it again. Harry had another nightmare that night and the night after that and Draco held him through all of it. He was there for the shaking and the muttering and the restless nights when Harry stumbled downstairs to make hot cocoa.

Draco didn't have nightmares. Harry had asked him once and Draco had just shrugged it off. In fact just a few years of a decent routine and Draco was no longer the thin, pale, ghost of a man he had once been. He had the hints of stubble and an easy smile. He looked good and Harry couldn't help resenting him just a little for it. Draco looked like he had everything together and unfortunately Harry had bought it.

In his defense there was nothing of the war ever present on Draco's face save for the knowledge in his eyes (but all of them, every single person who had fought that day had that look about them). No, it was Harry who had the massive lightning bolt scar. Sure, his hair hung down to cover it most of the time but all he had to do was absent-mindedly push it back when he stared at himself in the mirror each morning and there it was. It taunted him, asking him who the hell had given him the right to move on with his life when so many had perished. That was the root of his nightmares after all, wasn't it?

Maybe Draco understood or maybe he didn't. Either way when they talked they barely scratched the surface. Draco it seemed preferred to hold him rather than talk and Harry was content to let it pass. In the morning Draco would read him the highlights from the paper as Harry worked the kettle and that would be that. It worked for them.

Present

There was something about childhood that made waking up so much easier. Perhaps it was the promise of a day without responsibility or maybe it was just the cartoons that were always on TV at this ungodly hour.

"What time is it?" Harry groaned, refusing to open his eyes enough to check the clock. The weight on his lower limbs shifted slightly before there were arms shaking him awake again.

"Harry, wake up!" he heard Teddy whisper not so quietly. "I think there's someone downstairs!"

Harry's eyes flew open at that. He gently pushed Teddy off his torso so he could scramble for his wand. "What do you mean, Ted?" he asked, trying to sound calm so he wouldn't alarm the boy.

"I went downstairs to watch TV… I didn't want to wake you but then I was halfway down and I-" he paused and lowered his voice. "I heard someone!"

Harry frowned. "It's not Kreacher's day in, is it?"

Teddy shook his head solemnly. "It's Thursday. You have work."

"Wait up here for me, okay?" he told the boy, as he reached for the nearest shirt. "You know what to do if anything happens."

Teddy nodded. He accompanied it with an eye roll usually. This must have really wound him up. Now Harry was a little worried. This wasn't his first home invasion but it had been a long time since the last. Maybe he had gotten slack with the wards. He vowed to fix that up as soon as he got back from work that night.

He padded down the stairs, the cold wooden floors making him curse inwardly. Carpet. Why had he never thought of carpet! Avoiding the squeaky stair by habit he paused, listening for any sign of his guest. What sounded like the scrape of glass on marble made him stiffen.

He made it off the last stair and paused by the doorway, wand ready. With one deep breath he stormed into the living room only to find that it was completely empty, just how he had left it last night. Frowning, Harry was about turn back to find Teddy when he felt the unmistakable point of a wand right between his shoulder blades. It travelled slowly up to settle just by the nape of his neck.

Taking a deep breath to brace himself, Harry ducked, spinning and kicking at his home invader's legs. They gave way even as Harry found his feet and made a move for the hand that was still clutching the wand. He wrenched it away and stepped away from the man slumped on the floor.

"What the hell was that for, Potter?" groaned the tangle of limbs that was trying to sit upright.

"Draco?" Harry asked just staring at the guy.

"Yes, are you just going to stand there and gawk at me?" Draco scowled. Apparently he was still a sore loser. Harry grinned, giving him a hand up. At least some things didn't have to change. He tried to ignore the way the close proximity already had his breath hitching.

"A little unnecessary, don't you think?" he asked, taking a thankful step back as he let Draco examine himself for injury.

Draco huffed. "Teddy!" he called up the stairs. There was a scrambling sound and then Teddy, doubling over with laughter made his way down. "You are to delete that video from your phone this instant," Draco informed him, sounding more posh than usual in his irritation. He held out his hand. "Or better yet, I'll do it for you."

Teddy pouted. "But it was so good! Harry just swung around and-" He ducked and did a sweeping kick to demonstrate which just seemed to rile Draco up even more.

"Wait," said Harry, still utterly confused. "You two planned this entire thing?"

Teddy beamed up at him. "Draco thought he could beat you."

"Teddy thought I couldn't," said Draco bitterly.

"And I was right," Teddy finished with a triumphant smile.

"So you thought it would be a good idea to wake me up at-" Harry looked around for the clock and had to hold back a howl of disbelief. "It isn't even seven yet!"

Draco snorted. "I figured I'd have an advantage in the morning. Don't worry I made you coffee," he added, heading for the kitchen. "And Teddy doesn't get maple syrup on his pancakes till he deletes that video."

"No fair!" Teddy cried chasing after him. "That wasn't part of our deal!"

Harry followed them, still with many unanswered questions. He didn't complain when Draco pressed a warm cup into his hands. The blonde, frowned down at it doubtfully though. "I sort of went with experience on the coffee so if you need more sugar or something…"

Harry took a sip and struggled not to let out a filthy moan. "It's perfect, thanks," he added belatedly. Draco gave him the kind of smile that had Harry digging his fingers into the countertop.

"The paper hasn't arrived yet by the way," Draco added, thankfully turning to check on the stovetop. "You should get that looked at. Ours is usually at the Manor by six."

"Oh, don't worry, it doesn't arrive till eight which is when I usually wake up…" Draco raised an eyebrow and Harry just shrugged. "I'm more of a night time person."

"I know," said Draco so quietly Harry barely caught it. "You wouldn't happen to have chocolate chips, would you?"

Teddy's eyes widened and he immediately jumped off the counter top. "We do!" Of course he knew exactly where Harry had hidden them. Their last attempt at making chocolate chip cookies had ended with far more chocolate than cookie.

"I wanna make mine," Teddy announced, re-emerging from the cupboard with box in hand. Kreacher was a traitor and Harry was going to have some strong words with him in the near future.

Draco moved aside so Teddy could drop in far too many chocolate chips into the batter. "Not a word of this to your grandmother, do you understand?" Harry asked. Teddy nodded solemnly. "Good and if she asks we had blueberry pancakes. She can be very scary," he explained when Draco gave him a look.

Draco nodded in understanding. "That she can be."

They watched as Teddy, brows furrowed in concentration began to pour the first of the batter. It wasn't a bad start, Harry had to admit, he had actually been holding his breath. A few minutes in though and… well Harry didn't want to say a disaster but whatever it was, it did not resemble a pancake at all. Teddy wrinkled his nose. "I don't like making pancakes," he told them. "I like eating them."

Draco chuckled. "I'll do the next one."

Teddy shrugged. "I'll get the maple syrup ready."

"Did you delete the video?"

"Harry said I could have maple syrup," Teddy insisted, looking pointedly over at him. Draco glanced up from the perfectly round pancake he had cooking in front of him.

"I want no part in this," Harry told them with a shrug. "But I think Ron would be rather interested in that video."

"Oh he would be," Draco huffed.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh come on," said Draco, neatly placing the pancake on Teddy's plate before pouring out more batter. "Weasley has had it in for me since the day we met."

"Nonsense, you two would play chess together all the time. Hermione and I would leave you for hours at a time some days. Don't even get me started on those stupid reality shows."

Draco frowned. "They weren't that bad."

"They were rip-offs of the muggle ones and to be honest they were actually even worse," Harry informed him.

"At least we didn't watch soaps!"

"There is nothing wrong with the occasional soap," Harry insisted. Staring down into his empty cup.

"Ah, yes," said Draco, handing him the next plate. "Occasional being the operative term here I suppose."

"You used to watch Jeremy Kyle religiously!"

Draco shrugged. "The man made a career out of telling people how messed up their lives are. Its kind of genius."

"He's a judgmental prick!"

"We used to watch him for hours. Together."

He did have a point. In Harry's defense there was hardly anything else to watch at 3am other than Jeremy Kyle repeats and infomercials. Frankly he preferred the infomercials.

"Who's Jeremy Kyle?" asked Teddy finally piping up. Harry had forgotten he was there. He had been so silent as he sat perched on the counter top, watching their conversation with interest. It dawned on Harry that perhaps this wasn't the best idea. Perhaps giving the kid hope would just mess him even more if Draco- He made himself to drop the thought before it could take hold.

Instead he forced a smile. "Your cousin Draco in a few years, probably."

Draco nodded solemnly. "Rich, famous and still charming."

Harry almost choked on his pancake. "Charming!" He bit back the other words he would have used because the last thing he needed was for Teddy to go home with excess sugar and new vocabulary.

"Well I don't want to be famous," Teddy told them, thoughtfully. "Unless it's for Quidditch. I want to fly on a dragon."

"Changed your mind about the aurors, have you?" Draco asked, finally piling on his own plate of pancakes. "That was all you could talk about when you came to visit me a few years ago."

Teddy wrinkled his nose. "Harry took me to his office last year. His desk was full of all this paper and there was so much writing."

Harry laughed. Apparently his trip had been a success. The last thing he wanted was to have Ted grow up with that same romanticized view of aurors every wizarding kid seemed to have. He didn't exactly have a problem with Ted joining the force but he wanted the boy to at least have the chance to explore the rest of the world first. A chance Harry had never received.

"Speaking of which," said Draco with a smile that gave Harry the distinct impression that the man knew exactly what his agenda had been. "I can only imagine what your desk will look like after your day off, yesterday."

Harry shrugged. "I'll just slip a few folders onto Ron's and maybe Owen's as well. They won't notice."

"And you won't stay too late?"

"Merlin, you sound like Hermione," said Harry, waving him off. "Ted, do you mind if Draco takes you home? I might need to head in early today."

Ted shrugged. "S'fine."

"Alright, I'd better get ready for work then," Harry announced. He looked down at his pyjama bottoms that he still had on and debated how much trouble he would be in if he showed up to work in them. He'd be stuck in his office all day and it's not like he was going to work at that place for long anyway…

"I'll clear up," Draco told him, "Just leave it at the sink." Draco had always had a thing about the housework. Back when they were living together he used to insist on doing them the muggle way. Apparently it was somehow satisfying. Harry had discovered exactly what he had meant in the years that followed.

"Sure," he said, placing his dishes in the sink and stealing a piece of Teddy's pancake on his way out. Teddy scowled but he was already eyeing Draco's plate so he didn't bother to complain.

Harry was nearing the doorway when he heard Teddy whisper. "I'm glad you stayed." He swallowed and forced himself to keep moving. Hope could be nasty when it was false and he had the feeling he'd just filled his godson with just that.

At precisely five o'clock a sharp knock at the door pulled Harry from the outline for a raid he was reading through. The head of Owen Peters appeared at the doorway before the man marched into the office, taking his place by Ron's empty desk with his arms crossed. "It's five," he said pointedly.

"I just have a couple more to get through today," said Harry, staring glumly at the pile next to him that had more than just a couple of folders stacked.

"They'll be here tomorrow, mate," Owen told him. "No wonder you've got that beer gut setting in. Merlin, does Robards ever let you out?"

"We had that case together not long ago," Harry shrugged. He knew the battle was lost. Owen wouldn't leave him be.

Owen snorted. "Since then I have had five different investigations, one of which is still ongoing."

"Now you're just showing off," Harry threw back half-heartedly. He packed away his quill, belatedly shoving a few folders into his bag as well so he could work at home. Technically that would be a security breach but they weren't any of the truly high-profile ones anyway.

"You need to be more hard on the guy," Owens insisted. "Demand fieldwork and if he says no, tell him where he can shove it and walk out of here in a hail of gunfire."

Harry rolled his eyes. "That'll be the day."

"I'd love to help."

"Of course you would."

Harry wasn't used to leaving this early but apparently it was the peak time for ministry employees to head home. The place was packed and the line to the floo was massive. Thank Merlin he usually stayed later. He couldn't imagine dealing with this on a regular basis.

As they waited he realized that he didn't actually regret letting slip to Owen that he wanted to go for a run that night. It was nice having company. The guy had pounced on the idea immediately and somehow managed to turn Harry's nighttime escape into a much earlier one. At least this way he could avoid Ron who was due back from a call-out any time now.

Ron would just question him ceaselessly on his day off and he'd look all proud and approving and Harry really couldn't handle that right now. And then Harry would inevitably mention that he spent the majority of that day with Draco and Ron would probably fly off the handle. It was a subject they had so far been able to ignore since the awards debacle and Harry hoped that they could keep it that way. Although come to think about it, he wouldn't mind some advice around about now. He would definitely have to concoct another plan to get Hermione alone.

"You okay?" Owen asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Harry nodded. They had finally reached the front of the line and people were starting to grumble when he took his time stepping into the fireplace. He shot an apologetic look back at them as he spoke the words to get home.

Harry had barely stepped out of his fireplace before Owen arrived. "Nice place," he said, stepping out after Harry and looking around with approval. It did fill Harry with a sort of pride knowing he had fixed it all up himself and he let himself bask in it.

"You should have seen it when I first moved in," he said with a smile. It had been the most depressing reminder of all that he had lost and Harry had almost decided to move out immediately. Sirius had left it for him though and it had been his job to turn this place into a home. Somewhere along the way he felt like it had worked.

He left Owen, who was already dressed in shorts and a t-shirt to wander around the living room, examining the ancient architecture of the Black's ancestral home with some kind of odd fascination. Upstairs Harry found his own kit resting near the back of his wardrobe. He was ashamed to admit that his running gear had not been touched in weeks. When he tried them on sheepishly the shirt seemed just a little too small and he couldn't even blame it on muscle mass because he hadn't exactly been lifting weights. He frowned down at his torso, examining it closely in the mirror. Flexing then sucking in, he stared his reflection down until he was positive that Owen was wrong and that he did not have a beer gut setting in already.

As soon as they made it out of his wards Harry apparated them to the little park he liked running in. It was close to Grimmauld Place and sometimes he even walked there. The muggles avoided the place for some reason. Probably because the rusty old swing set in the middle looked like it was one screw away from falling apart completely. Or maybe it was ladder to the slide had most of its rungs missing. Whatever the reason, the place was usually deserted and the perfect location to find his inner peace.

Harry barely had the chance to recover from the apparition when Owen took off from beside him, speeding away like he'd been planning this move all along. He probably had.

"Merlin, have you ever heard of a warm-up?" Harry called after him.

He took the loud guffaw he received in return as a negative. If the guy pulled a muscle Harry refused to be held responsible. By the time he had finished his stretches, Owen had almost finished a lap like the show-off that he was. Harry joined him for the next one and they soon settled into an easy pace.

It wasn't quite the same feeling as flying but the exhilaration was still there. He had always been good at running. He had to be considering he was the smallest boy in his class for most of his primary school years. Also he was Dudley Dursley's favourite plaything so that didn't help either.

They picked up the pace after the first lap and Harry let himself focus solely on the sound of their legs hitting the ground and keeping his breathing steady. It was this feeling of being completely disconnected from the world that he had always loved about running.

The time eased by fairly quickly, he found. Beside him Owen barely looked like he was breaking a sweat even though he had done a lap before him. Harry convinced himself it was the guy's longer legs. Unfortunately he couldn't keep that up for very long and soon he felt his own breath start to come in more raggedly.

His companion grinned at him and winked. "Need a break do we, Potter?" Harry just drove in harder and pushed himself into a sprint for their last lap. It had been a decent half hour, he found once he slowed enough to check his watch. Considering he hadn't run in months it was a pretty solid effort.

"Not bad," said Owen, jogging up to where Harry was lying on the grass beside his drink bottle. "I did lap you right at the start though."

"It's been a while," Harry offered.

Owen laughed, dropping to the ground by him. "We can work on it then. So, are you going to tell me what's wrong or do I have to take wild guesses till you break and tell me?"

Harry pursed his lips. He'd been told several times that he didn't exactly have the most inconspicuous thinking face and it had probably given him away. "I'd actually like to see you guess."

Owen sighed. "If I must," he drawled, turning to face Harry. "Your cat just died and on top of that you're considering a career change because you've rekindled your passion for Broadway." Harry gaped at him, not because of the ridiculousness of the idea but more because his words actually hit close to home. The letter he still hadn't sent to Robards came to mind but he pushed it away. "Definitely a midlife crisis," Owen added.

Harry frowned. "I'm not that old. It's not a midlife crisis until you're at least forty these days."

"Mate, there are teenagers who believe they are having a midlife crisis because their favourite band broke up."

Harry snorted. "Well in that case I must have had mine at eleven." He took a deep breath, wondering if he really was going to explain this to his fellow auror. He could really do with advice from someone who wasn't speaking solely out of anger or even a need to protect him. On the other hand he had only known the guy for barely a month.

His internal dilemma must have been written on his face because Owen was watching him curiously. "Is this about Malfoy?" he asked at last. He rolled his eyes when Harry looked surprised. "Oh come on, it was all over the papers.

"I thought you didn't read the gossip column."

"Apparently any mention of Auror Potter's love life snags the front page," Owens retorted.

"Touché," Harry sighed. "How much do you know?"

Owen shrugged. "You dated ages but broke up when he moved to France. Although I'm not quite sure if it was to join some sort of Harry Potter assassination Mob or because he eloped with a lover, leaving you heartbroken."

"I have no idea where they come up with these stories but the truth is far less interesting unfortunately." Harry made to stand and found Owen following. "We had a fight. He left. I didn't follow. Time passed and then he reappeared with a best-selling novel."

"Something tells me there is more to it than that," said Owens, falling into step beside him.

So Harry found himself explaining in broad terms the gist of what had happened. Owen nodded along, asking questions here and there but for the most part just took it all in. It was strange watching the other man's face change as Harry walked him through his relationship with Draco. He found himself wishing he could somehow see it through Owen's eyes. It might make it a whole lot easier to figure out what the hell he was meant to do.

By the end of it though he felt an odd sense of freedom, like it wasn't his burden anymore. The ball was in Owen's park now. He had left the other man sorting through everything Harry had piled on him.

Owen took his time and Harry figured he just didn't know what to say. They walked in silence for a while, watching the purpling sky as it darkened even further. Just as Harry was considering apologizing for laying all of that on him, the auror finally spoke. "Is he worth it?" he asked, catching Harry's eye. "I mean the way you described it, seemed like he left you utterly miserable. Is he worth the risk at all?"

"I don't know," Harry admitted. "I mean I had fun yesterday and it was so comfortable and it's what I've wanted for so long but I need to think about Teddy, now, not just myself. He probably thinks we're getting back together."

"And how does he feel about that?"

"He's thrilled. But if Draco leaves again it's going to be so hard for him-"

"You keep saying he's going to leave but have you thought of what could happen if he doesn't?" asked Owen thoughtfully.

Harry shook his head. He hadn't really thought that far ahead if he was being honest. In his mind this only ended one way. Draco was going to leave again and Harry was going to be sad but not like before because this time he knew that he could learn to live without the guy. Soon he'd get a dog instead, maybe two or three and well that was that. Owen apparently seemed to have guessed where his train of thought had led. "You're not going to be alone forever, Harry."

"I tried dating," Harry shrugged. "I could never see myself with any of them. Then all just ended up disappointed in the end so I stopped that altogether."

"But you see yourself with him?"

Harry was silent. "Okay look at it this way," said Owen, running a hand through his hair. It stuck up at odd angles in sweaty spikes. "If you had the chance to obliviate this guy from your memory, would you?"

Harry snorted. "It's not that simple, Owen," he said. "I've known him a long time. Most of my life, in fact I think I-yeah I met him before I even met Ron." Frowning down at the dirt Harry realized that it was technically true.

"Just humor me."

"Alright," Harry sighed. He toyed with the idea of brushing it off with some halfhearted joke but he had nothing to lose really if he admitted it. "Sometimes I think it would make life easier." But I'd never be able to do it. "There's a muggle movie like that, I'm not sure if you've heard of it. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."

Owen nodded. "Yeah, an ex-girlfriend, she was muggle-born, made me sit through the entire thing. She was sobbing at one point."

"And you weren't?"

The way Owen hesitated before answering gave him away. "I didn't cry," he muttered.

"Sure you didn't," Harry smirked.

"Hey, I thought we were talking about your issues," Owen said snippily.

Harry grimaced. "Fine, you got me. Of fucking course I wouldn't obliviate myself." He tried not to sound bitter as he kicked at a stone in his path. "It wasn't perfect but he was the best relationship I've had. Some of the best years of my life – I couldn't give that up."

"So it was worth it then?" Owen pressed.

Harry astutely glared at the ground. "You wouldn't be asking me that if you had met me the year after he left."

Owen frowned. "So it's true then," he muttered, more to himself than to Harry. "You really don't remember."

"Remember what?" Harry asked, trying his best to sound patient. The initial high from the run was starting to wear off though and he probably failed miserably. The dull throbbing in every single muscle spoke of months of neglecting his fitness.

"You were one of the aurors assigned to my team during training, I think in my second year."

Harry blinked. He could barely remember those years he had been in charge of the recruits. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Robards had figured it was safer than having him out on the field. He had been a shell of a person back then and coupled with his occasional self-destructive tendencies he had been a menace.

Actually it was a terrible idea as they soon found out. Robards began to receive complaints about how he was almost running the trainees into the ground. The truth was Harry had been angry and blinded by it.

"I am so sorry," Harry managed to get out. "I'm glad you're still here and I didn't break you completely!"

Owen laughed. "An 80% drop-out rate that year. It was a record apparently and one that is still unmatched." He waggled his eyebrows until Harry's grimace lifted into a weak smile. "Even old Donbraithe couldn't do it."

Harry groaned. "Those poor trainees."

"No, don't sweat it," Owen shrugged. "They weren't cut out for the job anyway." He slapped Harry on the back. "Cheer up, mate. I'm here, aren't I? I'm just glad I managed to stick around long enough to learn that Harry Potter isn't a complete tosser after all. Those other poor misinformed souls however…"

Harry gave him a shove. "Arsehole."

Owen just cackled and shoved him in return. "So, you going to take him back then?"

"Who?" asked Harry just to be difficult.

"Malfoy."

"I'd be lying if I said I hadn't considered it."

"But?"

"But I want to be sure this time."

"When have you ever been sure about anything you've done?" asked Owen. "I heard you were an action first, think later kind of guy."

"It's different-things are different now. I need to be sure," Harry insisted.

"Suit yourself, mate," Owen shrugged. "I'm just your friendly life advisor remember." He paused, face brightening up in wonder. "I could get paid!"

Harry laughed. "Seriously though, thank you."

"For what exactly?"

"Listening and the life advice."

"Thank me when you actually follow it," said Owen with a smile. "Look, I'm usually all for leaps of faith but I get it, you need time. Take it slow with the guy. See where it takes you. You've been through it before right? At least now you'll know what to look for if it gets rotten. You wouldn't have lasted in the Auror force for ten years if you didn't learn from your mistakes."

"Maybe I will have to hire you," Harry laughed. "You're right though. I won't be going in blind this time and I won't make the same mistakes."

"Plus you'll have me here to whack you over the head and call you out when you're being an idiot."

Harry gave him a shove, dodging easily when Owen tried to return it. Harry had the distinct feeling that once again he'd been exceptionally lucky in the friends he made. How he had managed to stumble upon people like Ron and Hermione and Neville and Ginny and Luna among others was beyond him. As long as he had them, he could eventually get through anything. That much he could be certain about.

A/N: Sorry for the delay guys, my laptop just decided to stop functioning and it took a good two weeks to fix. Back on track now though. Let me know what you think :)