Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Universe belongs to JKR and anyone she legally lets use them. Not me. My ideas/plot are mine alone.

A/N: After a week of being immersed in organic chemistry, my midterm is over and I have returned to writing xD Thank you everyone for the wonderful reviews, the faves and alerts! The response to this story still surprises me :) I feel so very loved. Thank you for your suggestions, you'll see a few of them pop up soon.

Hope I deliver with this next chapter!

Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Two weeks after the ball marked Severus and Potter's six month "anniversary." In deference to the need to appear together in public, they had an "anniversary" dinner, and since both were adept at acting, pretending to be besotted lovers had not been difficult.

It made Draco's blood boil.

The morning after, Draco sat at the dining table staring at the newspaper, on which a picture of Potter and his lover sitting at a small, candlelit dining table, making goo-goo eyes at each other, graced the front page. Draco threw the paper against the wall in anger, a hex following in its wake.

Severus walked in just as the paper exploded into a thousand pieces from Draco's angry hex. "Draco?" Severus looked at the younger Slytherin questioningly.

Draco's grey eyes turned to his lover and he said icily, "Severus."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "What is it now Draco?" Sometimes Draco was such a … Drama Queen.

Draco looked away, clenching his teeth. He wished Severus would just understand.

Severus gently laid a hand on Draco's shoulder, turning him slightly, to face the older man.

Draco sighed. "It's been six months Severus. Six months. We haven't gone out to do anything together. You're only ever with Potter in public. I know we didn't go out much before, but still…"

Severus sighed, "I thought you understood that it was only an act Draco. We must do this."

"I do! But, I'm your lover Severus. And yet he's the one that gets to have romantic dinners with you. I want to be wined and dined as well."

"It is hardly pleasurable for me Draco. I find it just as unbearable, if not more so, than you."

Draco sighed and stepped away from Severus, "Never mind." Sometimes the older man made him feel like quite a child.

Severus caught Draco's arm and drew him back into his embrace. "What would you have me do? You know that if we are seen, and my marriage with Potter is questioned, it is very probable that the terms of the contract will be violated, and both Potter and I will be left with no magic or fiscal resources."

Draco squeezed his eyes shut and attempted to step away. "Never mind Severus."

Severus growled at the Draco's harsh tone and held him tighter in his arms, "Draco," he said, slightly reproachful.

Draco wrinkled his nose. Damn Severus and his superior strength. "Can we do something together?"

Severus pursed his lips, "What do you suggest?"

"I don't know! Anything!" exclaimed Draco. His mind, however, was quickly going through the various things he could con Severus into doing.

Severus cocked an eyebrow, looking down fondly at his lover.

Draco smiled innocently, "Let's go on a trip. For our anniversary next week. Hawaii?"

Severus scowled. "It is sunny there."

Draco pouted.

Severus rolled his eyes; the things he did for Draco. "Fine. Whatever will convince you that I would never be interested romantically in Potter, in any way, ever."

Draco huffed, "I already know that. He's no match for my brilliant mind and gorgeous face."

Severus' black eyes glittered in amusement as he chuckled slightly and bent down to kiss his lover.

Engrossed in each other, they missed a pale Harry disappearing from the doorway and up the stairs, misery dulling his eyes.

After strictly avoiding the two Slytherins all day, Harry puttered about the kitchen that night, making dinner while lost in thought, when Malfoy walked in.

Harry blinked blankly at the blonde before saying neutrally, "Malfoy."

Malfoy sniffed at Harry, letting his eyes roam about the kitchen, subconsciously tilting his nose into the air, before announcing, "Severus and I will be gone next week."

Harry blinked again and nodded slowly. He already knew this, not that Malfoy had to know. "Okay."

Malfoy smirked, "We're going to Hawaii. It's our seven year anniversary."

Harry's heart froze at the reminder. "Okay."

Malfoy entered the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. As he left he said, almost absent mindedly, "It'll be wonderful. Alone, just the two of us, at last. Where we can actually be together." Malfoy walked away, never turning back to look at Harry, and thus missed the way Harry's eyes closed slowly, as if in pain, and the way the Gryffindor's knuckles whitened, clutching the counter.

Pansy Parkinson made an ideal secretary. She was efficient, organized, and didn't take nonense from anyone. She knew when to say what, and when to say nothing at all. She was also very good at reading people. So when her boss walked in, eyes dull, face gloomy, and no brilliant smile on his face as he entered the door labeled Deputy Head Auror, she knew that Harry Potter was not having a good day.

Frowning, Pansy got up and fetched him a cup of coffee, glaring at the Auror who couldn't seem to move his eyes from her chest. "What? Never seen breasts before?" she said, raising an eyebrow. The Auror spluttered and mumbled an apology but she just sniffed and walked away, smirking. Aurors. So easy to wind up.

Pansy knocked on Harry's door before entering. "Harry?"

Harry looked up and gave her a half hearted smile, "Pansy. Good morning. Is that coffee?"

Pansy nodded, putting the coffee on the table before seating herself in one of the chairs across from Harry's desk. Harry looked up at her and said, "Something wrong?"

Pansy folded her arms and looked at him. Harry pursed his lips. "What?"

Pansy sighed, "Harry, you look like you just found out that Santa Claus isn't real. What's wrong?"

Harry shrugged, "Nothing."

Pansy raised an eyebrow. Harry sighed and put his quill down. He'd known it was dangerous to hire a Slytherin as his secretary. They just couldn't leave anything alone.

Harry rubbed his left eye before saying, "Snape and Malfoy are going to Hawaii for their seven year anniversary this week."

Pansy blinked at Harry. As Harry's secretary it was her job to know things. So, even if Harry hadn't said anything, she knew that the arrangement between her former Head of House and her boss was unusual to say the least. Cocking her head to the side she said, "So?"

Harry shrugged, "Perhaps knowing that their relationship is thriving so well simply reminds me of how alone I am."

Pansy furrowed her eyebrows before letting her face clear and saying, "Harry, you do realize you're alone because you never go out? You're always on assignment. It's not healthy."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Yes Mum."

Pansy scowled at him before getting up to go out. She paused at the door though, a stray thought entering her mind. "Are you feeling alone because it's Severus and Draco that are together?"

Harry flinched, jerking his head away to look out the window. "What do you mean?"

Pansy frowned, her mind calculating, her eyes narrowing. "Harry…are you…" but before she could finish the thought, Kingsley, Head Auror entered, "Potter!"

Harry rose from his chair, "Sir."

"My office." Kingsley swept out the door and Pansy sighed, the moment lost. Harry pulled his robe on as he got ready to see his boss. As he passed her, Harry paused to lightly kiss her cheek. "Don't worry about me Mum. I'm fine." Pansy scowled as Harry walked away. Bloody Gryffindors.

One week later

Draco grinned as he dropped his trunk on the floor of their bedroom at Grimmauld Place. It had been a wonderful vacation. They had swum in the ocean, made love in the most comfortable bed possible, and Severus had even tanned a bit, his pale skin no longer sallow. Draco spun around to grin at his lover, who simply shook his head indulgently at the younger man and went to make lunch. Draco followed Severus, humming to himself, so lost in thought about what they had done in Hawaii that he almost ran into Severus when he stopped abruptly.

"Severus?"

Severus was frowning. He ran a finger along the dining table. Dust.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "It's dusty."

Severus looked down at the younger Slytherin, "Did Potter say anything about not being here?"

Draco shook his head.

They entered the kitchen, which was in a similar state of disuse. The dishes were washed, but seemed to have been sitting there for a while. There was no aroma of any food having being cooked recently.

"Draco!"

Draco stepped out to see Severus standing by the small table near the door.

"Severus?"

Severus looked up and held out the newspaper, not noticing the green envelope that slipped from underneath the pile of papers and fell to the far side. "The newspaper hasn't been read. Since Monday. Nor has the mail."

Draco blinked and looked up the stairs. "Potter!"

No answer.

"Potter, we're back!"

Still no response.

Severus cursed under his breath and strode up the stairs, Draco at his heels. They entered the part of Grimmauld Place that was designated as Harry's. Decorated in neutrals, blue and green, window drapes open to let in rays of sunshine, the rooms looked deserted in its stillness. Severus frowned.

Where was Potter?

Review please!

And to the person who called me cheap for making the chapters so short-I warned you in Chapter 2 :)