Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Universe belongs to JKR and anyone she legally lets use them. Not me.

A/N: I apologize again to you guys for not updating. A disastorous combination of a lost outline, lack of inspiration, and Real Life prevented me from writing this chapter. But, FINALLY, I have, and I have a feeling the next one won't be as hard either [considering it is already half written...] I hope you enjoy this! And everything it hints at ;] Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, faved and alerted this story and stayed with me!

Enjoy!

Chapter 28

Harry stood in front of the fountain at the coordinates that Aidan had given him, a calm facade plastered on his face. In reality, the dim lighting of the elegant small Italian town, with romantic music and delicious smells wafting from the restaurants, made him nervously twitch in his navy blue formal wizarding robes. Gazing around, Harry ran the new mantra that Pansy had drilled into his head repeatedly in his mind. I am wonderful, I am a prize, I am amazing, I deserve better, I-fuck that.

He was going to go to dinner with this lovely man and not think about the delicious Slytherins that were currently probably fornicating in his house.

Gah.

Attempting to take his mind off of those irritating things, Harry glanced at the reflective window across from him, making sure his glamour was still secure. Chestnut brown hair, skin a shade lighter, sharp angles softened just a touch, and contacts that let his eyes blaze bright green, he looked less like himself. Hopefully.

"Evan!"

Harry turned and smiled as he met eyes with Aidan who was dressed in deep violet robes that framed his gorgeous body perfectly. The other man smiled as he approached Harry. "I see you were able to find the fountain."

"Yes, your coordinates were perfect," Harry said congenially, smiling.

Aidan smirked slightly, "Well yes, of course they were. I'm not a Ravenclaw for nothing," he said as he gently took Harry's right hand and raised it to his lips to kiss it gently. Harry found himself blushing like a schoolgirl at the motion. Nobody had bothered to treat him so...chivalrously before.

"Shall we?" Aidan said, tucking Harry's arm into his elbow and leading him towards a small, romantically lit restaurant.

Harry nodded and followed him, his heart racing.

And, for once, his Auror reflexes failed him, as he didn't notice the tracking charm on his shoelaces, or the two nondescript shadows following them towards the restaurant.

Aidan has a reservation and so they were seated quickly, menus placed in front of them by an indifferent waitress. Aidan quickly ordered wine for them before encouraging Harry to look at the menu.

"Their chicken parmigiana is lovely, as is their shrimp alfredo. Personally, I enjoy the lobster ravioli," Aidan said conversationally, sipping his wine.

Harry nodded, slightly nervous. He was just realizing just how long it had been since he'd been on a real date.

"Hmm, I think I'll go with the shrimp alfredo," he said finally, putting the menu down and picking up his wine glass.

"Good choice," Aidan said, just as the waitress returned. "We'll have the stuffed mushroom for an appetizer, and then the shrimp alfredo for my date and the lobster ravioli for me."

The waitress smiled and quickly left, as if Aidan had given her some secret signal that he wanted to be alone with Harry.

Clearing his throat slightly, Harry said, "So, Aidan, tell me a little bit about yourself."

Aidan laughed, "Yes, it seems a bit odd, doesn't it, that we are here on a date and barely know each other?"

Harry chuckled, relaxing, "Yes, just a bit. I mean, I suppose we talked last night but not..."

Aidan smiled, "But not really. I'm a curse-breaker for Gringotts. I've been working there for a while, straight out of Hogwarts."

Harry's eyebrows shot up, "Oh really? When were you at Hogwarts, I don't remember you..."

Aidan smiled, almost nervously, Harry thought. Rubbing the back of his neck slightly, Aidan said, "I probably left before you even started." Aidan cleared his throat awkwardly, "I'm 35. If that's a problem..."

Harry laughed and just grinned at his date, "Well, I have a thing for older men, so it really isn't."

Aidan smiled, relaxing in his chair, "I wasn't sure if you had realized last night." He smiled slightly sheepishly, "I'm guessing you're about 25, yes?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, "That's a very good guess."

Aidan shrugged, "I'm good with ages."

Harry smiled, "Part of the job?"

Aidan grinned, "I suppose. My buddy, Bill Weasley, says it helps me stay out of hot water with the young Egyptian boys."

Harry froze for a second upon hearing Bill's name and then laughed and gave Aidan a flirtatious smile, "I see, fraternizing with the delicious men of Egypt?"

It was Aidan's turn to blush, attractively in Harry's opinion. The rosy color spread gently over the other man's face and Harry couldn't help but laugh at his embarrassment.

"But seriously, are you sure you're a Ravenclaw? I can't help but notice that you have a very Slytherin smirk in your arsenal," Harry joked, glancing up through his eyelashes, smiling flirtatiously over his glass of wine.

Aidan laughed and pulled the Slytherin smirk out again, "Well, I do come from a family of Slytherins. Must be genetic, but I certainly need it to keep up with them."

Harry cocked an eyebrow, "I don't remember any McCarthys in Slytherin..."

"Actually, most of my family is on the Zabini side."

Harry's eyes flew up to meet Aidan's.

"I lived with my cousin Blaise mostly, my father left us pretty early on and my mother moved in with her sister."

"Oh? I know Blaise, but he's never mentioned you..."

Aidan blinked, "Really? Well, he's never mentioned you. That makes us even."

Harry smiled and changed the subject, even as his mind was racing. This man had far too many connections to his real self. Either he wasn't who he said he was, or this was just a very strange coincidence.

But Harry didn't believe in coincidences

Severus and Draco ate slowly, both pairs of eyes trained on the wizard they were tailing and his date.

"Potter's on a date?" Draco hissed, his eyes narrowed and trained on the offending couple.

Severus raised an eyebrow, "Draco, you just told the man you did not care for his previous feelings. You are here with your lover. Do attempt to not sound like a jealous boyfriend."

Draco glared at Severus, "That's not what I meant! And why do you keep making comments like that? Do you want me to have feelings for him?"

Severus put his napkin down and folded his arms, choosing to ignore Draco's questions and sticking to what he wanted to know, "What do you mean then?"

Draco clenched his jaw, "He blew me off, told me to wait for my memories, just so he could go on a date?"

"Draco, Potter going on a date is a good thing."

"Is it?"

"Why would it not be?"

"That's Blaise's cousin, Aidan. Look at him Severus."

"Yes, I'm looking at him. What about him?"

"His eyes are grey. Like mine. His hair is jet black, and he's clearly older. Like you. He's slender, like me. Tall like you."

Severus stared at Draco before slowly saying, "Draco, are you suggesting that Potter is pursuing this man because he reminds him of us?"

Draco nodded, "That is exactly what I'm saying."

Severus gaped at Draco, struck speechless.

Harry smiled as he disrobed, his mind relaxed from all the wine he'd drank tonight, the good company helping as well. And the good night kiss, while not having caused his toes to curl, had warmed in a way that he hadn't felt in years.

The note on his desk reminding him about Draco's memories sobered him up quickly, however.

Tomorrow he'd have to face the music. Admit everything to his housemates. And then live with them for the rest of his life.

Closing his eyes and gripping the edge of the desk, Harry felt all the tension he'd lost during the evening seep back into his muscles. This memory fiasco was going to have only one ending. And it was not a favorable one for Harry. Snape and Malfoy were going to end up with even more ammunition against him, and he was going to have to deal with it. Emotional ammunition was the worst sort of weapon you could hand a Slytherin, Harry had found in his experience, and he was about to hand over the most dangerous set. Willingly.

To the men he mindlessly cared for.

No. Stop, Potter—

Harry heard a voice call out, "Harry?" from the direction of the parlor, breaking his line of thought.

Harry took the stairs slowly, his eyes darting about in case one of the Slytherins was nearby. He did not want to see either one right now. When not even a mouse moved in the hallway, Harry quickly entered the parlor and got down to speak into the Floo.

"Blaise? Is something wrong?"

"Would you please explain to me why my cousin is asking me about an Evan Black, a supposed friend of mine?"

A/N2: Once more, I would like to stress, I am not leaving FFnet. The previous notice was simply a safety measure, so that everyone could find my stories should they disappear from here.

And yes, Draco does have his moments, doesn't he? ;]

Review please!