When Harry gets home from the offices after a horribly long day, he finds Ginny crouched on the floor of his bedroom, meticulously packing his huge, battered leather suitcase. Harry, used to this kind of invasion, just shrugs off his jacket and collapses onto his bed, flicking the switch on the radio and filling the room with music. Ginny, without even really acknowledging his presence, wanders over to his oak chest of drawers and starts rifling through them, throwing items over her shoulder in the general direction of the open suitcase.

'Um hi? How was work?' Harry pushes himself up on his elbows, trying to gauge her expression. Ginny's not known for her silence.

'Good, good,' Ginny replies absentmindedly, systematically folding and stacking clothes. 'You?'

'S'ok. Boring, as usual. Insurance and safety stuff for tomorrow, loads of paperwork,' He watches curiously as she sifts through his cupboard, holding up jumpers up to the light for inspection. 'I'm perfectly capable of packing my own suitcase, you know,'

'Yeah, well, you say that, don't you? Last time you went away, you arrived in the Scottish Highlands without any waterproof clothing AND you had forgotten your wellie boots. It rained for the full ten days, if I recall correctly,' She smirks at him, then turns back to her task.

'Hey, my train was at 5 in the morning. I packed that suitcase in my sleep. It's just I tend to pack the essentials and really don't need the suit jacket, or the leather shoes, or the aviator sunglasses you always seem to pack for me,'

'Best to always be prepared for every type of weather and social occasion, right?' She grins up at him from her cross-legged position on the carpet.

'Right,' Harry says resignedly, knowing he would have never won the argument anyway.

Ginny finishes placing clothes into the suitcase and plonks herself down on the lid, sprawling sideways to grab the zip and slide it round. Harry looks curiously at her.

'You know I'm only away for a week, honey. I'm not moving out,' Harry says softly, grabbing Ginny's hand. Without warning, she launches herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest.

'I know, I know, it's just that… well, I'm worried now every time that you go away… you might not come back,' She lifts her head up, green eyes shiny with tears.

'Ginny, I promise you that I will be safe. I'll be back without a single scratch. Honest. Anyway it's not like you'll notice me gone. You have the entire flat to yourself! You can warm your bed with as many people as you like and not have to worry about keeping the noise down! Trust me, it'll be no time,' Harry hugs her closer.

'Ok,' Ginny giggles, sniffing. 'That was a bit melodramatic,'

'Well, that's nothing like what I usually get from Hermione. You'd think I was going to go and jump off a cliff, the way she says goodbye to me. At least I won't have to go through that this time,'

Ginny winces. 'Weeellll,'

'Well,what?' Harry stills, worried.

The doorbell rings shrilly.

'She may be coming round this evening. With a few others, too,' Ginny smiles guiltily.

'WHAT?'

'Harry, this is the first mission you've had in a while. We're sending you off in style. Now, go open the door,'

Harry cracks open the door and staggers backwards as Hermione launches herself at him. She wraps her tiny body tight around him, runs a hand through his hair which is falling into his eyes, and promptly runs off to find Ginny. Ron follows sheepishly behind. Harry glares pointedly at him.

'Mate, I know we only saw you yesterday but trust me, there was nothing I could do. Once she's set her mind to something…' Ron rolls his eyes resignedly.

'It's alright, mate. Really. Just some warning would've been nice. Thank you, though. I have hardly seen you recently,' Harry grins reluctantly, pulling Ron in for a swift hug.

'Yeah, been busy. It's hectic at the moment. You know what the holiday season is like at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Hectic,'

'About that. Is everything ok with you two again?'

'Bloody brilliant, mate. Never better. Got someone working part-time now, so I'm not so crazy busy,'

'No cold feet about the wedding yet, then?' Harry asks.

'None, mate. She's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I'm certain,' Ron gazes adoringly at Hermione as she walks into the room, chattering ten to the dozen with Ginny. The doorbell rings again, and Harry glances over confusedly.

'Ginny? Expecting anyone else?' He yells over his shoulder as he walks down the hallway.

'Erm, well. Kinda,' She mumbles, grinning at Hermione. Hermione grins back delightedly. Harry turns to glare at Ron, who shrugs and shakes his head in Hermione's direction, looking completely baffled. Harry groans, rolls his eyes to heaven and goes to open the door.

Opening the door an inch and peering carefully out into the hallway, Harry's heart leaps. Draco stands on the doorstep with a smile lighting up his grey eyes. Harry takes a couple of tiny steps forward, straight into his arms. Burying his face in Draco's shoulder, Harry feels a grin stretch across his own lips at the familiar scent of hair gel and peppermint, the feel of Draco's arms tight round his waist. Reaching a hand up to wrap around Draco's neck, he lifts his head. Draco's grey eyes are soft, pupils slightly dilated, staring directly into his own green ones.

'I didn't know you were coming,' Harry whispers, pressing a light kiss to the corner of Draco's mouth.

'Neither did I, until a couple of hours ago. Hermione texted me,' Draco replies.

'You could have told me. I didn't know this was happening until half an hour ago. Bit of a shock. I'm glad you're here,'

'I know we were only at dinner a couple of nights ago but I didn't really want you to leave without me saying a proper goodbye,' Draco's cheeks pink and he glances away, slightly embarrassed.

'Don't worry. You being here is going to make the night so much easier. Hermione knew what she was doing,' Harry smiles fondly.

'Any chance we could escape halfway through, head back to mine?' Draco's breath is hot on his neck, sending shivers down Harry's spine.

'Unfortunately, I don't think so. Hermione will definitely notice and I have to get up at 5 tomorrow morning to catch the train. Raincheck, though?' Harry says ruefully.

'Sure. When you're back. We should probably go inside now. Hermione will be thinking that you have escaped,' Draco grins, grabbing Harry's hand and heading back into the warm flat.

Hermione spots Draco and lunges at him, almost knocking him off his feet. She steps back, eyes shining as she takes in their linked hands.

'I knew you would turn up!' She says excitedly, the statement directed at Draco. She gestures to Harry. 'He's so much happier now you've arrived, see?'

Draco grins down at her, squeezing Harry's hand as Ron appears by her side. There's the usual stilted greeting between them, Harry notices. It will still be a while before Ron's entirely comfortable around Draco. The fact that Hermione clearly loves Draco seems to be a big help, though. Ginny sidles up to join the group, stretching up onto her tiptoes to kiss Draco on the cheek.

'Good, you're here. Now Harry will have someone to stop him running off,' She giggles before ruffling Harry's hair and skipping off to the kitchen, Hermione following. Ron follows slowly after them, eyes firmly fixed on Hermione's retreating figure. Draco turns to Harry, loosely draping an arm round his waist as he steers Harry towards the sofa.

'You really hate these things, huh. Wouldn't have really have thought that the 'Boy Who Lived' hated attention,'

'Shut up. Also, don't call me that. I've never liked being the centre of attention, no matter what has happened in the past. It was never really my fault. I was just there in the right place at the right time. Or the wrong time, maybe,' Harry glances towards the mural of Hogwarts on the wall.

'Sorry. I didn't mean to annoy you. I know-' Before Draco can finish his sentence, the doorbell rings for the third time. Harry groans and buries his face in Draco's neck.

'Why can't it just be me and you, huh?' He mumbles, sinking further into Draco's embrace.

The flat is flooded with voices as people move into the room. Harry lifts his head and adjusts his glasses, which have been slipping further and further down his nose. In shock, he realizes that Adam and Seb are walking towards them. Adam is grinning mischievously, arching a single eyebrow at the surprised look on his face.

'What are you doing here, Adam? It's good to see you again, Seb,' Harry stands up to embrace his friend.

'That's my greeting? Well, I wasn't gonna miss a chance to see my favourite girls,' Adam smirks, watching as Hermione and Ginny both run over to greet him. 'Hermione invited me. Said we should turn up and get a proper send-off,'

Harry turns to Hermione, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. 'So this is what it's all about. Just an elaborate plot to spend some time with Adam,' he says teasingly. She grins up at him, then pulls away, vanishing off into the kitchen. Adam grabs Harry's arm and leads him over to a quieter corner.

'Ready for tomorrow?'

Harry smiles ruefully. 'Course not. Not in this weather, or so close to Christmas. The bosses really pick their moments, don't they?'

'Too true, my friend. I don't want to go either, but the sooner we leave, the quicker we'll be back. Anyway, how's it going with you and that Greek god over there?' He laughs, gesturing over to where Draco and Seb sit chatting.

'Good, mate, yeah. Early days and all that, but it's good. Really good,' Harry smiles.

'It's so good to see you happy again. Like properly happy. You're smiling again. And that's good. Can't hide your feelings forever, mate,'

'Alright, enough about me,' Harry switches the subject. 'So, what's going on with you and Seb. Serious yet?'

Adam's face lights up. 'I don't know. We're taking it one day at a time. But, to me, it's serious. I'm falling hard and fast, mate. And I'm fine about it. He's the one that makes me happy,'

'What?! I thought I was the one that made you happy,' Harry gasps in mock anger. Adam starts laughing and slings an arm around his shoulders, ruffling Harry's hair. They shuffle back over to the others, where Harry, noticing the absence of spare seats, plants himself down in Draco's lap. Draco smiles sweetly as Harry turns to face him.

'Good talk?'

'Yeah,'

'You ok?'

'Yeah'

The doorbell rings. Harry groans. Draco laughs. Luna, Neville, Charlie and George hustle through the door, followed by Ginny's friends, Maya and Matthew. Harry knows both of them quite well, from late night bar-hopping and drinks after work. Matthew lifts up a bag-for-life and shakes it, quietening everyone with the sound of loud, chinking bottles.

'Anyone up for drinks?'

Harry has done the rounds, greeted everyone and spent far too long in polite conversation. Slowly, over the course of the evening, more and more people turn up; the small gathering has turned into a full-blown party. Head fuzzy from probably one too many drinks, all Harry wants to do is curl up on the sofa with Draco. Draco, who is engaged in a deep conversation with one of Hermione's work mates, a guy with obviously bleached hair in a ridiculous faux-hawk who has put his hand on Draco's arm one too many times. What in God's name does he think he is doing, messing with Harry's Draco? There's a gentle cough and Harry looks down to see Luna, standing with a small grin on her face.

'Don't worry, Harry. He's smitten with you. Has been for a lot longer than you have realized,' She says in her soft accent.

Harry glances confusedly down at her, his muddled brain not quite making sense of what she is trying to say. Before he can question her, Luna vanishes and Draco appears beside him, placing a warm hand in his.

'I need to go, got an early meeting tomorrow. Walk me out?' He whispers into Harry's ear.

They walk down the stairs. The silence is deafening, compared to the noisy, bustling atmosphere inside the flat. The air is bitingly cold, too, making Harry wish he'd grabbed something warmer as they left the flat. When he turns to look at Draco, any annoyance from the faux-hawk boy incident melts. Draco has his face tipped up to the night sky as he watches the flashing lights of an aeroplane fly over their heads. The streets are deserted, as they should be at two in the morning on a Thursday. They reach the Underground station and Harry's heart jumps pleasantly as Draco tugs him into his arms. Tipping Harry's chin up, Draco looks into his eyes, with something akin to seriousness in his expression. He runs a gloved hand down Harry's face.

'How did I get here, Harry? How did we get here?'

'Chance,' Harry replies. 'Chance, coincidence and a little bit of Hermione,'