Harry,

First I just want to say, if I'm reading too deep into things, or overstepping in any way, please just ignore this. Oh, and I haven't told Hermione anything, so don't worry she won't pester you.

I thought it was weird the other day when you mentioned "Bad Blood" with the Aurors. Honestly, I haven't heard anyone mention what happened in so long that I totally forgot about it. Draco was always so insistent that you weren't ready for another job, I thought that you shared the same feelings but now that we know anything... I don't know, I don't know where I'm going with this or how to explain why I did this, but I looked through your files at the Ministry.

I know, I know, illegal, yeah. But... there's nothing in there Harry. Seriously, there are like three lines about your training and some legal stuff regarding your employment, and then two lines I copied down: "Suspended pending internal investigation," then right below that it said, "All charges dropped, no action," and then of course about your resignation.

I guess I just don't want you to feel like you can't turn to the Aurors. No one blames you for what happened, and the bloody charges were dropped. So, please, when you're ready I want to arrest that bugger so bad Harry, seriously, you'd be making my dreams come true.

Also please come to the burrow for Christmas I don't know what mum will do to me if you don't come. It won't be pretty and I'll tell her where you live so she can direct her howler.

Ron.

Harry's sitting cross-legged in front of the coffee table, his back to the roaring fireplace. It's warm in the apartment to fight the late November air, but Harry feels a chill run down his back nonetheless. He's very glad he has therapy tomorrow morning to cope with this letter.

Severus is peeking over his book every few moments from his spot in the armchair, clearly curious as to the contents of the letter.

The sides of the letter are getting crumpled from the tight grip that Harry has on it. He sets the letter haphazardly on the table and gets to his feet.

"Is everything alright?" Severus has already folded the corner of his book page and closed it in his lap, looking at Harry with careful eyes.

"I just need to do something real quick." Harry's jaw feels tense as he walks to what was once his room. He's all but moved in with Severus at this point and only a few things remain, including a heavy ebony box that hasn't been opened in over a year.

Reaching for the box, the same ripple of green electricity bounces around both his fingers and his box, the lid shakes, almost bouncing itself all the way off as Harry finally grips it and reveals his wand. It's practically glowing.

He snatches it, quickly. Relief pours through his body as his magic reaches an equilibrium. Harry looks at the wand, considers the ramifications of going to Azkaban, then, in the calmest and most collected manner he can muster, says, "Crucio."

Severus is up in an instant. He was nervous already, with Harry acting so antsy, but hearing the unforgivable spurs him to go after him. He stands in the doorway of the bedroom and watches a bolt of red, like lightning, shoot out of the tip of Harry's wand and bounces anti-climactically against the stone floor. There's a slightly dark spot that's singed from the overwhelming power of the spell, but otherwise nothing.

Harry grips his wand like a clamp.

"Harry?"

"Just wait a moment."

They wait, standing silently for a few moments, Harry looks like he's counting, his lips moving slightly and his eyes half-focused.

"It was a lie," Harry finally explains and returns his wand to his pocket like it's the most natural thing in the world like it had never left.

"Sorry? Did you just cast an unforgivable on my floor?"

"Draco lied about the locks on my magic. If all my spells were being monitored there would be an Auror here by now. Ah, sorry about your floor."

"So, he has nothing on you."

"Absolutely nothing," Harry breathes the words out, exhaling completely. He looks up at Severus with frantic eyes and a slowly forming smile. "Maybe later I'll think about what a bloody idiot I was, but right now I just feel- fuck I feel incredible."

Severus takes a step toward him and Harry takes a quicker one, meeting him in an instant. Harry grabs Severus' upper arms, looking up at him with barely contained joy. "You're not an idiot."

"Sev, I blindly believed Draco for two years when he told me that he narrowly kept me out of Azkaban. Ron just told me that no charges existed in the first place. It wasn't that Draco went to court for me, there was no fucking case."

"He just wanted you to think you owed him."

"Merlin, I could..." Harry trails off, the happy look slips from his face, and for a moment he feels much darker. His veins pump with the freezing cold that comes from casting an unforgivable, tainting him as he thinks about what he could do to Draco. He pushes the feelings back, making sure that he's in control. "I don't know, I just hate him so much." Those aren't the right words, they don't encompass exactly what he's feeling, but they make his point.

Severus places a kiss on the top of Harry's head but Harry tilts his head and pushes their lips together instead. He's giddy, bouncing on his feet as he puts his arms around Severus' neck and stands on his toes so that he has better access.

Trying to match Harry's sudden intensity, Severus puts his hands around Harry's waist pulling them close together. It's been over a week since they talked, they've made out and had some heavy petting, but nothing further.

Harry is instantly moaning into the kiss and trying to get them even closer. He presses his erection against Severus, but Severus is too tall for them to press against one another. Harry pulls away in a huff, "You are too tall," he complains and drags Severus backward to the bed. At the last moment, Harry switches their positions so that he's on top and Severus is laying back. Harry climbs up to him and instantly presses his lips back.

From Harry's angle on top of Severus, he can grind his hips down directly into Severus' erection. Severus' hips buck up to meet his with a low groan.

Harry tangles his fingers in Severus' hair and pulls his lips away, burying his head in Severus' shoulder as he rocks against him instead. Severus' hands rest on Harry's ass, pulling his hips closer.

Harry's ashamed of the fact that he could probably finish from just this, but he wants more, he's certain he can handle more. He sits up on Severus' legs and starts to undo the belt on his pants. It's after school on a Wednesday, they have plenty of time.

One of Severus' hands settles on Harry's eagerly working ones. He raises an eyebrow at Harry, making him stop to consider his actions for a moment, but Harry is undeterred. He wants this. "I'm good, Sev, promise," and then he's pushing his boxers below his bouncing cock and gripping it in his hand. He hisses at the feeling of his cool palm against his warm flesh.

It isn't even a second before Harry is pulling at Severus' pants next, undoing them in the same manner until they both have their cocks out.

Severus' movements are unsure and tentative. He runs his hands down Harry's thighs and touches him, but avoids his cock, not wanting to push his boundaries right now.

Harry's movements, on the other hand, are entirely focused and sure. He lays himself back over Severus' locking their mouths back together.

They both let out moans at the first brush of their cocks against one another. Harry cries out, having to break the kiss and press his face into Severus' neck again. His legs are quivering slightly. This, Harry is certain he would be able to orgasm from.

He almost comes embarrassingly quickly when Severus' hand finally wraps around both of them. His hand is smooth and cool and can just barely grip them. Harry is leaking precome which lets them glide against one another.

Harry only thrusts a few more times until he's coming over both of them, making a mess of Severus' shirt. "Fuck, Harry," Severus moans and speeds up his hand on just his own cock, using Harry's ejaculate as lube.

They kiss again, Harry better able to control himself when he's not on the edge of orgasm. Harry bites at Severus' lips, gently, and presses his tongue into the man's mouth while he chases orgasm.

With just a few more strokes, Severus shudders, saying Harry's name one last time as he finishes.

Harry lets himself collapse onto Severus' chest, momentarily ignoring the fact that they both need to change their clothes.

"Sorry, huh," Harry catches his breath. "I don't know what came over me, I'm just in such a good mood."

"I will do everything in my power to keep you in a good mood from now on."


The Leaky Cauldron on a Friday evening is always the same. Today there's just no Draco.

They even sit at their usual place at a booth in the back, but Severus takes the seat that Draco used to have. Everyone has a beer in front of them.

Hermione is an excellent diplomat, so she's been engaged in an easy conversation with Severus, who, in turn, is on his best behavior so that Harry's friends will like him.

Harry could tell that Severus was a little put off by the idea of getting drinks with Hermione and Ron, but Harry had said he really wanted to, and that he wanted to get Hermione and Ron's opinions on a few things. Of course, Severus could never say no to Harry, in an overwhelmingly good way.

Ron is substantially more awkward than Hermione. He keeps shooting Harry looks as if to say 'Can you believe we're here with Snape?' then seems to remember that his best friend is not only here with Snape, he also lives with him and is ambiguously in a relationship with him. Harry hasn't gone so far as to explain that, is just letting his friends make their own assumptions.

Hermione rifles through her purse and Harry is reminded of when she pulled the newspaper clipping with the DADA job from it. Harry thinks about that night, zoning out a little.

[ "I think you're thinking about something Hermione brought up. Which is it? Your birthday or the job?"

He wasn't. He'd pushed those thoughts from his mind when they'd left the Leaky Cauldron. Draco wanted an answer, though. It wasn't acceptable to tell Draco 'No, you're wrong, actually.' Neither option is pretty, but Harry already had the weight of his birthday coming up that weekend, he can't live through that twice, so he decided: "You're right," he tries in vain, "I'm thinking about the letter from Minerva."

Draco looked shocked and hurt. He was a good actor. "Why do you always want to hurt me?" Draco asked, rhetorically. He reached for the whiskey again but he'd already finished it. Draco pushed Harry off of his lap and onto the floor, he landed with his elbow against his broken rib, and he cried out. "Go get me another glass," Draco tossed the fragile crystal glass at Harry's lap, he was grateful it didn't explode on him, this time, at least. "And try not to pick up any men this time." ]

He isn't brought back to reality until he feels Severus' hand on his thigh, gently. Hermione is holding a stack of papers out to him but her arm has begun to sag, Harry wonders how long he was out of it.

"Sorry," he says, trying to quickly move passed it. He grabs the papers from Hermione.

"Those are the documents you asked for. And, I'm sorry, I really tried to find a loophole, but you have to have him sign it. It's a blood seal." She explains. Harry sighs but knows it's no use fighting, he's sure that Hermione really looked through all options.

Harry flips through the papers. This is the last thing he has to do and then he's free of Draco. He really doesn't care about the meager amount of clothing and belongings he left at the Malfoy residence, he just wants to be free of Draco. He wants to be Harry Potter again.

"Again, Harry, if you go to the Aurors we could set the whole thing up, you wouldn't have to meet him alone." Ron nods, taking a sip of his beer, and finishing it. Harry finishes his own and shakes his head.

"I'll meet him somewhere public." He tries to change the subject, not wanting to worry about Draco or Aurors for the rest of the night.

Eventually, Harry gets them another round of drinks, then Ron gets the next, then Severus, probably too intoxicated to be in charge of his own money, gets the last two rounds. Harry can't blame him though, they've all had quite a bit to drink.

Ron starts to get handsy with Hermione, putting his arm around her, and pressing kisses to her cheek, Harry can tell when they're about to call it a night, and within a few moments, Hermione says they should probably get home. It is almost midnight.

They leave first, with lots of hugs and promises from Harry that he'll see them soon and that he will probably (definitely) go to the burrow for Christmas.

Getting themselves home is a whole other story. They're both on the cusp between tipsy and outright drunk. Harry is giggly and red-faced, and Severus keeps making wry smiles and sardonic jokes, spurred on by the fact that Harry laughs at all of them.

They finally peel themselves out of their booth. Thankfully the bar is almost empty, but they are doing very little to hide the fact that they're obsessed with each other.

Harry has a hand around Severus' waist, steadying himself as they stumble slightly. Harry breaks out into laughter at the fact that he almost falls over and Severus puts an arm around his shoulders, acting like he's just keeping Harry upright, but supporting himself as well.

They walk side-by-side to the floo and are too busy whispering to each other to notice that almost every set of eyes in the room has gone to them at least once. Their closeness is clear, more so when Harry stands up to press a sloppy kiss to Severus' cheek right before they step through to the apartment.

Neither of them thinks about it, instead shrugging out of their clothes and collapsing into bed.

"Severus?" Harry says while they lay on top of the covers, both of them flushed and warm from the alcohol. They're in only their boxers. Severus is laying on his back and Harry is wrapped around him, one leg hiked up over both of Severus' and his head on the man's shoulder.

"Yes?" Severus runs a hand through Harry's hair.

"I really like you." It sounds stupid to Harry's ear, immature. Harry thinks he loves Severus, but that feels even more wrong to say.

"I'm too drunk to possibly express how I feel about you." Severus responds, then adds "But, simply put, I really like you too."

Harry snuggles down deeper into Severus' side, pressing a few lazy kisses against his neck, they're both too tired for anything more.

He thinks for a long time about Draco before falling asleep. Draco was always a quiet, sometimes sad drunk. It was very rare that they would go out drinking and actually have fun, not that that ever stopped Draco from wanting to, he never seemed to care if Harry was having fun or not. It was nice, drinking again with Severus, getting really drunk for the first time since that night in Wilshire.

Harry is determined to end things with Draco, and legally separate them, he'll start working on it in the morning.


Harry wakes up achingly, world-shatteringly horny, and notably alone.

He looks around for a clock for a few moments. Maybe Sev let me sleep in? But why? He catches sight of the clock, it's barely passed five in the morning, they don't usually get up till seven-ish.

The door is open, a light's on in the living room, not the overhead one, just a lamp.

Harry slips out of bed and groans, half in pleasure, half in annoyance when his cock shifts against his stomach. Harry reaches a hand into his boxers and just gives it one squeeze, unable to help himself. He pulls on a pair of Severus' pajama pants to at least attempt to cover his shame and grabs his glasses, but he doesn't put a shirt on.

Standing just outside the door Harry can hear something from the living room. He walks the few steps it takes to be able to see and stops for a moment, his brain stuttering while it buffers what's in front of him: Severus, in the armchair, cock in hand, eyes closed.

Harry isn't sure if it's a creak in the floorboard or his heavy breathing that gets Severus' attention. He's frozen in place. He feels awkward and doesn't know how Severus will react. Harry's worried he's going to be upset for some reason.

The hand on his cock doesn't stop as Severus' eyes open. Like Harry, it takes him a second to recognize that there's even someone else in the room. "Harry," Severus breathes, slowing his hand until he completely stops. His cheeks instantly darken and his erection flags slightly, feeling like he's a teenager again.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Harry takes a few steps closer even as he apologizes. His eyes are still trained on Severus' cock. His mouth goes a little dry.

Under Harry's gaze, Severus' cock can't help but twitch again and he instinctively tightens his grip around the base. Harry watches a few dribbles of come form at the tip and begin to spill down the sides.

"Do you want me to give you head?" Harry asks, shyly, quietly. He's still standing a ways away, nervous to come any closer.

Severus' erection flags a little and Harry wonders if he's said something wrong. "I didn't mean to wake you, really, I'm not expecting anything." Oh. He's just worried because he woke me up to this. Harry feels kind of flattered that Severus can still worry about his emotional state while masturbating.

"Can I give you head? I know you didn't mean to wake me," Harry palms at his own erection and Severus notices it.

"If you're sure."

Harry's sure. There's nothing he wants more right now. He closes the distance between them. Severus has his underwear pushed down to just below his cock, he's leaning back in the chair. Harry sinks down to his knees and replaces Severus' hand with his own.

Severus moves his hands to the side gripping the arms of the chair. Harry looks irresistible from this angle and he pulls his own glasses off, setting them behind him on the coffee table. Severus loves Harry's eyes, it feels like a special occasion when he has the glasses off. Severus wants to run his hands through Harry's hair and touch him, but he knows this is all still new, he doesn't want to push Harry.

Harry stares into Severus' eyes as he strokes him. Severus has a long, thick cock. Only a bit larger than Harry's. Another of the wizarding world's best-kept secrets. Finally, Harry leans forward and presses his lips just to the tip of Severus' cock. The skin is hot and wet, and Harry's lips are instantly coated in a layer of precome.

He doesn't let up on his grip around Severus' cock, holding it tightly at the base. Harry's lips are still just pressing feather-light kisses as he works his mouth down the underside with deep, airy breaths. Harry licks his tongue back up to the tip.

"Jesus Harry," Severus stifles a groan with the words.

That makes Harry smile before he takes the head into his mouth and sucks hard, laving it with his tongue. Harry tastes Severus' come, salty and dark. He licks over the tip, pointing his tongue against it.

Removing his hand, Harry finally sinks his head down lower. In an instant, he's almost swallowed all of Severus. He can't quite get his nose flush with Severus' body, but he sets a steady pace, trying to work his way up to it.

Severus has lost all pretense of trying to stifle himself, letting out a series of moans, and "Harry"'s. His grip on the arms of the chair is tight as he tries to keep his hips steady when he desperately wants to fuck into Harry's mouth. He was close when Harry came out and not being able to set the pace is killing him. Harry is taking him well, but slowly, looking up at Severus through teasing eyes.

Harry knows exactly what he's doing and commends Severus' self-control, even as he feels a few shallow thrusts.

Eventually, Harry takes pity on him and starts to move faster, he goes as far down as he can and then about halfway back up, never letting Severus' cock fully leave his mouth. Harry circles two fingers around the base of Severus' cock, his grip is tight and Severus throbs against it.

Harry pauses for a moment, pulling all the way off. Severus, eyes closed now, groans and thrusts his hips up, the messy tip brushes against Harry's cheek, leaving an obscene smear. Severus meets Harry's eyes, half-lidded and content.

Harry grabs one of Severus' hands and pulls it to rest on the back of his head. He gives Severus a tiny nod before taking the man back in his mouth.

Severus is gentle at first, very gentle. He just rests his hand on Harry's head, trying not to apply any pressure and just letting him continue setting the pace. Harry continues taking Severus deeper and deeper now and has removed his hand. Finally his nose brushes near the base of Severus' cock.

"Fuck," Severus tightens his grip on Harry's head and holds him down for a few seconds. He's not sure if anyone has ever given him head this good, taken him this deeply. Finally, he pulls Harry up a little, letting him catch his breath. Harry is looking up at him from under his lashes, his eyes are so lust-filled that Severus quickens the pace.

He threads his fingers through Harry's hair and pushes Harry down as he thrusts his hips up. Harry moans against Severus' cock, the vibration feels incredible. Harry rests his hands on Severus' thighs as Severus continues to fuck his mouth.

"I'm close, Harry," Severus warns and completely loosens his grip, letting his hand rest on his head again.

Harry continues to take Severus deeply. One last time he swallows Severus as deeply as he can, this time Severus can really feel Harry's throat constricting around him and comes with a groan and several rapid, labored breaths.

Harry pulls off slowly, trying to swallow as much of Severus as he can. He looks up at Severus, with the tip of his softening cock against his chin. Harry has a line of ejaculate dripping down the side of his mouth. Severus' cock twitches at the sight, but it's in vain, there's no way he would be able to go again.

Severus pulls Harry away by his hair again, gently, only teasingly rough, and pulls the band of his underwear back up over his dick. Then, he pulls at Harry's upper arms until he gets the point and climbs up onto Severus' lap. The armchair is wide so Harry is able to sit with his knees on either side of Severus' thighs. Severus pulls him in for a kiss, not really minding his own come on Harry's face.

Harry kisses him eagerly and bucks his hips up against Severus' stomach. Harry practically whines into the kiss at the minuscule amount of friction. He's been hard for so long with no stimulation.

"Take these off?" Severus offers to him, breaking them apart for just a minute and pulling at the elastic of Harry's pants. Harry complies immediately, almost tripping in his haste to stand up and pull his clothes off. Severus had only meant the pajama pants but Harry pulls off both layers, climbing back onto Severus' lap with absolutely nothing on.

They press their lips back together and Severus brings a hand up to wrap around Harry's erection. Harry's hands are fisted in Severus' hair, kissing him hard as he thrusts into Severus' hand.

Severus' other hand goes behind Harry, grabbing at his ass. Harry responds by gasping and pulling out of the kiss, only to move his lips to Severus' jaw. Severus grabs at Harry's ass again and Harry licks the spot below his ear, letting out a sharp inhale and a barely audible moan. Severus' fingers move inward and Harry's thrusts get more erratic, more frantic.

Finally, Severus' middle finger brushes against his entrance. Harry bites Severus' shoulder as a shudder goes through him, then kisses the spot where he's left a small mark.

"Is this alright?"

Harry's cheeks are red so he just nods into Severus' shoulder.

"Harry I mean it, is this okay?" Severus' hand on Harry's erection slows momentarily.

Harry pulls away so he can look right at Severus, even though he very much wants to hide his embarrassed face. "This is good," he assures.

The hand on his cock leaves and Harry moans in frustration. He thrusts up against Severus' stomach again, but the friction isn't as good.

Severus grabs a bottle of lube from the end table. He brought it out earlier but never got around to actually using it. He fiddles with it behind Harry's back, putting just a small bit on his index finger before going back to pressing against Harry.

Harry moves to press back against the digit but Severus grabs Harry's hip, holding him steady. Severus sets the pace, entering Harry very slowly. His first finger slips in with barely any resistance, Harry is so relaxed.

Harry holds his hands on Severus' shoulders, hiding his face in the man's shoulder, too shy to look into his eyes.

Severus' finger glides in and out, agonizingly slow, and Severus doesn't touch Harry's cock again. Soon, though, he presses his middle fingers in with his index. Harry's hips twitch again, but this time Severus lets him bounce up and down gently on the two digits.

The only noises Harry can make are gasping breaths and occasional soft moans as he rises his hips up and down on Severus' fingers. He feels ashamed to be reacting so wantonly to only two fingers, but it's been a long time since he's felt pleasure like this, even longer since he's genuinely enjoyed it.

Finally, Severus' fingers hit his prostate, making his cock twitch severely. "Sev," Harry gasps and presses his lips against Severus' neck. Harry's legs are like jelly so Severus takes over, hitting Harry again and again in the same spot.

Harry is biting and sucking at Severus' neck, sure that he's going to leave a mark or two, and excited by the thought of Severus with a hickey (easily coverable with magic, of course).

"Harry?" Severus speaks quietly, not stopping his fingers.

"Mmhmm?" Harry asks. He feels his orgasm building even with no hands on his cock, just the occasional rub of it against Severus' stomach.

"Come for me."

In almost the same instant Harry is orgasming all over Severus' chest and stomach. He continues to ride Severus' fingers through the aftershocks, whimpering when the sensations become too much, too overstimulating.

Severus pulls his fingers free and Harry collapses heavily against Severus' chest. It's sticky and a little offputting that they're both covered in semen, he considers, briefly, getting up for a rag, but that sounds like a lot of work.

"That was really good." Harry mumbles. He feels sleepy again and wonders if Severus will let him go back to bed.

Severus just hums in agreement and runs his fingers up and down Harry's back, gently.

"Should we get in the shower?"

All of Harry's tiredness leaves his body at the thought of being in the shower with Severus. He clambers to his feet quickly, pulling Severus' up and out of the chair, to many protests. Harry doesn't care, he's already picturing round two in the shower.


Harry nervously scratches the inside of his wrist while he waits in the coffee shop, the skin red and raw. His eyes dart around and every time the door opens he flinches at the tinkling bell.

There's a copy of The Prophet sitting at one end of the table, Harry has already turned it upside down to hide the front page. "Cheater Potter Breaks Draco Malfoy's Heart" with a moving image of him and Severus stumbling through the floo, the kiss Harry gave him is barely discernible.

Harry couldn't bring himself to actually read it, but Severus had. It came out this morning, Sunday, The Prophet sat on the story for a whole day so they could get an exclusive comment from Draco himself. It was very whiny and self-sacrificing. Draco talked a lot about how busy he was with work and how he and Harry had drifted apart, but he never expected Harry to cheat.

He's so over Draco that Harry doesn't even care. Before he would have been stricken that the Wizarding World would think he was unfaithful. The Prophet can say whatever they want about me, my friends, and Severus, know the truth. It may be a little awkward at school on Monday, but maybe his students will be too scared to say anything now that they know he's involved with their most feared professor.

So lost in thought, Harry doesn't even notice Draco sitting down across from him, two coffees in his hand, one he passes to Harry. Harry begrudgingly notices that it's exactly how he likes his coffee, with cream and sugar, which Draco would never let him have.

"Harry," Draco breathes, flashing him a smile. He's groomed himself, hair cut and combed, but kept the beard. It's kind of nice- no Harry, nothing is nice about Draco, shut up. He's dressed casually, in the shirt that Harry got him for his last birthday.

"Hi, Draco." Harry doesn't know what else to say.

His therapist has helped him get over a lot of his fear, and they're in a public area, so he doesn't feel any immediate panic sitting with Draco. It's just overwhelmingly awkward. Draco has seen him at his absolute lowest, in the throws of pleasure, with the flu, one time accidentally walking in on him going to the restroom. It's just weird. Once he was everything to me and now he's just some guy I know.

"How are you? You look good."

"I'm alright I suppose."

"Potions going well? I saw an article in the paper about you getting your mastery."

"Oh, uh," Harry takes a sip of his coffee. "Yeah, it's going really well. Teaching classes now." Harry doesn't know why he's even answering the questions. He should just pull the divorce papers out and get this over with.

"That's really great Harry. You would have been good in the Defense position. Maybe it will be open again next year."

I would have been good in the DADA position? What is he going on about? "Maybe, yeah, I think it will, Minerva hasn't talked to me about it yet but I might do it."

"Just be careful, don't overexert yourself," Draco warns.

"Um," Harry wants to change the subject but he doesn't just want to immediately say 'so, anyway, let's get divorced already.' "How's work?"

"Oh, it's good. Just got a new account with some wealthy wizards from Hong Kong. It's a lot of work but it's nice to have something to do," Draco talks for a few more minutes, explaining the intricacies of what he has to do with the account. Draco has never bothered to explain what he does in this much detail before. Harry tries to listen politely and tries to understand what Draco is talking about.

"Sorry, kind of rambled there. Listen, are you hungry?"

"Ah, no, not particularly."

"I'm starved, let me go order food, I'll get you something."

Draco is up and out of his seat, heading up to the counter with another smile.

All of a sudden, Harry feels brewing panic in his gut. He was so calm before, so sure of himself, but Draco has a way of making Harry so unsure.

He returns with two plates, a plain croissant for Draco, and a chocolate one for Harry. "Still one of your favorites?"

"Yes, um, thank you."

They eat in silence for a few moments. Harry is hungry, he just didn't want to admit it. His stomach even growls a little bit. "I take it that you were actually hungry?" Draco teases.

Harry blushes a bit, embarrassed that his stomach was so loud. "I just didn't want you to buy me anything."

"Nonsense, it's my pleasure, you know I like to take care of you."

The pit in Harry's stomach gets bigger. He feels very weird, out of body, almost. He's on the verge of tears in an instant, so forceful that they threaten to spill over. I was so confident going into this. Harry rubs his face, not letting the tears track down his cheeks.

"Oh, Harry, here, let's walk. It's not too cold outside, we can go to the park next door. Fewer prying eyes and curious reporters."

That does sound nice, the park is large with lots of big trees and benches. This time of winter there really won't be a lot of people around. Shouldn't I be worried about that? Harry shakes the thought off.

"Yeah, that sounds nice."

Draco grabs both their coffees and holds the door for Harry on the way out.