Benefits
Chapter Eight
It was in the morning that Draco learned about the latest cover page article in the Daily Prophet. The last week he and Harry had been careful around each other, especially Draco. The incident with the photo album may have been forgiven, but it definitely hadn't been forgotten. The only time they weren't careful around each other was during sex. Draco smirked to himself; Harry was basically insatiable.
Blaise entered his office, once again without knocking and threw the latest copy of the Daily Prophet onto his desk, almost spilling Draco's hot coffee onto his lap.
"Blaise," Draco exclaimed, shocked, "what the hell?!"
"Read the front page!" Blaise said, as if it explained everything. He closed the door behind him and before a silencing spell before turning back to Draco, "now!"
Draco gave him a confused look and picked up the Daily Prophet, looking at the front page.
Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, ENGAGED?
According to a source the couple have recently gotten engaged, though, nobody was even aware they were dating! Sources say that Harry Potter, famously known as The Boy Who Lived, was nervous about how the wizarding world would take to Harry dating a well known, ex, Death Eater; Draco Malfoy.
Many witches around the world had their hearts broken when the famous wizard announced that he was gay and the news hit women's magazines everywhere. But now that he's officially taken; there is most definitely no chance for any men or women out there; for it seems Harry Potter most definitely only has eyes for Draco Malfoy, who were seen chatting together at a cafe in muggle London, close to the London offices of The Daily Prophet itself.
Photographs on page three
The couple-
At that point the newspaper began to smoke and burn a hole through the middle of the page. Before Draco could do anything, the entire newspaper turned to ash on his desk. He was livid, "who wrote it?!" Draco demanded.
Blaise shrugged, "I can only think of one person who writes so horribly," he muttered, looking out the window, "he's sitting at that desk, third on the left."
Draco got up from his chair and made his way around the desk and to the small window. There was a man with curly red hair sitting at a desk not too far away, writing on multiple copies of parchment with a blue quill. He was looking through other copies of parchment and had today's Daily Prophet sitting on his desk, practically untouched.
"Kingston," Draco muttered, "of course it was fucking Kingston; he'll do anything for a promotion."
"Well, the thing is," Blaise whispered, despite the fact that no one would be able to hear them from outside, "even if he did write it; that isn't the big issue."
"What is then?" Draco asked his voice loud and panicky.
"All articles have to go through Barnabas before they're published," Blaise muttered, "I suggest you confront him first."
It finally dawned on Draco what was going on, "I can't," he said shaking his head, "Barnabas will expect that."
"Why?" Blaise asked, not quite getting where Draco was coming from.
"Why would I get mad if I was actually engaged to Harry?" Draco asked, "Wouldn't I find it a little nice or something that it's considered a front page story?"
"You could angry about the Death Eater comment," Blaise said with a shrug, "I know you were angry about Harry saying it at dinner-."
"I can't let Barnabas know this affected me at all Blaise," Draco said tiredly, "otherwise he'll know it's all bullshit," Draco looked outside again, everyone was beginning to pack up their things, Draco assumed the day was over, "I need to go and tell Harry," he said, "and I need to buy an engagement ring."
(***)
It didn't take Draco long to find an engagement ring that he thought would suit Harry and make it look like they truthfully were engaged and that he loved Harry dearly. It was a silver band with small diamonds forming a straight, sparkly line; nothing too dramatic but nice enough to actually be considered an engagement ring.
He apparated to a safe spot away from prying eyes, right near Harry's apartment building and made his way inside. What he wasn't counting on was a bunch of photographers from magazines waiting in the front foyer.
"Draco Malfoy!" one of them called out, making half of the crowd turn around and face him, "what's it like being engaged to one of the most desirable men of our world-?"
"And what's it like being the second most desirable-."
Draco rolled his eyes and walked back out of the building. He was going to kill Barnabas.
He ran back to the appropriate apparation point and apparated right into the apartment.
(***)
"What are they doing down there?" Harry asked as soon as Draco was in the apartment. He sighed and threw himself onto the couch exhaustedly.
"Have you not read the Daily Prophet?" Draco asked from the couch.
"Yes," Harry said, "I'm just wondering how they got my address."
Draco froze, "I changed my address on my work paperwork..." Draco muttered, "just in case they needed to mail me anything-."
Harry didn't say anything as he made his own way to the couch, looking stressed, "If Lucas finds out where I live-."
"He won't," Draco muttered, "I promise, he won't."
Harry nodded, sitting down and sighing deeply, "so, how was your day?" he asked, trying to break the tension in the room.
"Don't get all domestic on me now Potter, geez," Draco muttered, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. He could feel a headache coming on. He suddenly remembered the engagement ring in his pocket. He dug his hand into his right pants pocket and pulled out the small jewellery box and chucked it at Harry, "here's your engagement ring," Draco muttered tiredly, "you obviously don't have to wear it all the time, but at least wear it outside of the apartment. I think Barnabas was getting really suspicious about the lack of ring thing."
Harry nodded and opened the box. His eyes widened slightly behind his glasses as he looked at the beautiful ring inside; but he didn't gaze at it too long as he stuck it on his ring finger, "I feel sorry for whoever marries you in the future," Harry muttered.
"Why?" Draco asked.
"You don't even propose," Harry said with a small smile, "you just say 'chuck it on so it looks like I care.'"
Draco laughed, for the first time in a while it was a genuine laugh. He had been so tightly wound, trying not to fuck up. He walked cautiously, like he was constantly walking on eggshells, except the eggshells were more like atomic bombs that if he stepped on them, or just nudged them slightly, he would blow into a thousand bits. To laugh now, after being so stressed, he almost sounded crazed.
But Harry didn't seem to mind. Harry just smiled at him, like he knew how scary this was for Draco. Subconsciously, Draco could feel Harry's hand creep into his and hold it tightly, as he continued to laugh, feeling carefree, despite the amount of photographers that were sitting in the lobby of the apartment block; waiting for Draco to return.
Draco enjoyed the display of affection; knowing that it was genuine and not something for people to see, so they could believe in the little story they had created.
It felt good to be somewhat cared about.
(***)
The next day, when Draco went to work he decided to apparate straight outside the building to once again to avoid the photographers. Harry had decided he was going to go over to Ron and Hermione's, show off the ring to make them stop being suspicious.
When Draco got to his office, Barnabas was sitting in his chair, spinning around like a child would.
"Draco!" Barnabas said cheerfully, holding out his beefy arms, as if to hug him, "how are you my boy?"
Draco cocked up a brow, "fine?" he said, confused. Barnabas barely ever said endearing terms to anyone in the work place.
"I was just wondering if you enjoyed the article." Barnabas said slowly, "front page; I thought you might like being considered big news."
Draco frowned, there was an insult in there somewhere, "didn't really like the Death Eater remark, if I be honest with myself," he said, "but other than that the article seemed somewhat acceptable," he smirked, "maybe I should write it next time; so you can actually get decent coverage."
Barnabas smiled, it wasn't friendly. It was...Draco couldn't even describe the dark grin the man gave him, "conflict of interest."
"Better than giving the job to a horrible writer like Kingston," Draco said with a smirk of his own. The look that replaced Barnabas's grin was something akin to shock, "oh, you didn't think I wouldn't figure it out?" Draco asked, "I know for a fact that he would do anything to get a promotion; fairly so, he's been working here for about five years with no raise or promotion or anything. The only thing he's gotten from this stinking place is a new chair after it broke; and even that took a week and a half."
Barnabas straightened up in Draco's chair, "I don't know what you have against me Draco, but; you best be careful with that tongue of yours-."
"What I have against you," Draco began, "is the fact that I work here and yet you didn't consult me about the article before printing it off. It's an invasion of my privacy-."
Barnabas shrugged, "we invade everyone's privacy."
"But I work here!"
Barnabas smirked, "on the paperwork, it says Draco Malfoy has no affiliation whatsoever with the Daily Prophet."
Draco froze. Barnabas was right; he had an alias. All his paperwork; alias, every article he had ever written; alias. The only people who knew that Draco worked for the Daily Prophet were those who worked on this floor and Harry. Nobody else knew; otherwise Barnabas would have been shunned and it would have caused havoc.
Barnabas nodded and got out of Draco's seat, "I've always wondered about the lack of photographs on this desk," he said, looking at it with a blank stare, "you'd think you'd have at least some photographs of you and Harry."
He walked past Draco with a small smile and made his way back to his office. Draco stood frozen, still in the doorway of his office.
Fuck.
(***)
"You want to quit your job?"
Draco nodded, pacing in front of the couch and Harry's coffee table. He'd been thinking about it all the day; the only reason he was really working was because he was bored. He didn't have much money, since the Ministry of Magic decided 'criminals' shouldn't be rich. The pay was horrible anyways; too many workers, not enough funding, therefore barely enough money to pay everyone decently.
Also, Barnabas seemed to have it out for him.
"You can't," Harry muttered, "He'll think it suspicious."
"I'm quitting because he's a fucking douche bag," Draco muttered, "no other reason."
Harry rolled his eyes, "that's really not a good enough reason considering the circumstances," Harry muttered, "what you need; is to get offered another job."
Draco paused, "I'm listening."
"You need to find something similar to the Daily Prophet that has better pay," Harry said with a shrug, "and considering your new-found fame through our 'star crossed lovers' story, I'm sure everyone would jump to hire you if you offered your services."
Draco turned to Harry with a shocked look on his face, "maybe there is a little bit of Slytherin in you after all."
Harry smirked, "I wouldn't mind a little bit of Slytherin in me right now...if you know what I mean..."
(***)
They both lay, panting on Harry's bed, covered in sweat. Draco turned to Harry who was raking a hand through his hair, gazing at the ceiling.
"I swear you get better and better every time," Harry said breathlessly, "damn Draco..."
"Who knew you were so horny all the time," Draco laughed to himself, "they should call you Horny Harry in newspapers; not The Boy Who Lived."
Harry laughed, "Horny Harry, or Promiscuous Potter?"
"Both seem rather fitting," Draco said with a smile. He placed his hand on Harry's naked thigh, eyeing the man's half hard cock, "ready for round two already Potter?"