Malicious Intent - Part 6 (H/D)
Title: Malicious Intent - Part 6
Author: sesheta_66
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Word Count: 2.5K
Rating: Eventual NC-17
Warning: none
Summary: Harry’s world is upended when he’s asked to investigate a break-in and threats levied at Draco Malfoy. He’s never told anyone about their short-lived but intense relationship, and now, five years after it ended, doesn’t seem the time. He’s a professional, so he will investigate, find and arrest the culprit, and get on with his life. What else can he do?
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
To start at the beginning, click here.
Or to read at AO3, click here.
[Malicious Intent - Part 6]
Malicious Intent - Part 6
Harry stared at the door, wondering if Draco was already awake. Or if he was even still inside. He also wondered why in the bloody hell he always - always - managed to get himself into these situations. Well, not this precise situation, of course. But ... for some reason that may never be entirely clear to himself, Harry couldn’t just hand this case off. Nor could he, apparently, remain as angry as he bloody well should be at Draco. He’d just looked so broken last night and Harry couldn’t help it. He couldn’t not help him. Couldn’t just leave him to deal with his own shit. Merlin, he really was a sucker.
It was that fucking dragon. It had thrown him off. And then he’d had to, of course, relive that stupid day all over again. Stir up all those old feelings he’d tried to leave behind. Cut open the wound and leave himself open for ... what, exactly? More pain? God, he was an idiot. And then that stupid, masochistic side of him had kept poking at Harry, wondering if Draco really did still care. Because if he didn’t, why would he have kept such a trinket? It certainly didn’t match his taste, which was decidedly more upscale.
When he’d got home, Ginny had already been asleep, which he’d been thankful for. He knew he couldn’t discuss the case with her, and knew she’d be angry at him for taking it - she still hated Draco and likely always would. But more than that, he doubted he’d have been able to school his features to hide just how shaken up he was. And she was stubborn. She would not have easily let that go. He’d spent a few restless hours replaying his and Ginny’s lives together over the past few years. It had been good. It was still good. Comfortable. Good friends. Supportive family. Everything was good. Really good. That spark they’d had back in school ... well, that always fades over time, right? You get to know each other and settle into a comfortable life. And that’s what they had. Bringing up some short-lived whirlwind whatever-it-had-been with Draco from years ago was stupid. It wasn’t healthy. They’d never have lasted anyway, right? But then that stupid dragon popped into his head again and his mind started reeling once more. Eventually, he’d managed to drop off to sleep.
In the clear light of the morning, however, he’d managed to rustle up a bit of anger as he focussed not on the good times he and Draco’d had, but on their last conversation. On how Draco had dismissed him as though he’d meant nothing. That they’d meant nothing. That anger had prompted another thought, something he hadn’t considered while he was in Draco’s flat. Perhaps he’d kept the stupid thing as a reminder of just how wonderfully gullible Harry was. How he’d finally been able to best him at something. How he’d been able to hurt Harry. Really hurt him. Harry didn’t want to think that Draco was that horrible, but he’d been wrong about him before, hadn’t he?
He glared at the door and tried once more to channel his anger. Protect himself from his own weakness. And Draco was his weakness. But he was a fucking Auror, damn it, and he could do this. Maybe it would be better if Draco had already left. He took a few calming breaths, steeled himself and knocked. No response. He knocked again. "It’s me."
He heard some shuffling and then the door opened. Well, shit. Draco had clearly still been sleeping and he stood there looking ... fuck ... like he’d just crawled out of bed. Not helpful. "This is your hotel room," he said, stiffling a yawn. "You shouldn’t have to knock."
Harry shrugged. "Maybe, but I told you that you could stay here and -" He thought back to a night years ago when he’d accompanied Dumbledore to see Slughorn "- it would be rude to just barge in."
Draco blinked, straightened up and brushed off his sleeves, though Harry saw no evidence of anything there. "About that." He took a fortifying breath before looking Harry in the eyes. "I ... thank you. I don’t know what came over me."
"Relax," Harry said, going inside and closing the door behind him. "I can’t imagine how I would have reacted if I’d just found out that someone had been spying on me, in my home, for months, if not years. It’s understandable."
"Still. I don’t usually ..." He ran his hand through his hair and, unlike Harry’s, it settled neatly into place. Of course it did. "I’m generally pretty good at keeping it together."
"Right." Harry motioned towards the bed. "You done with that? I could use a table to work at." And I could really do without having a bed in the room with us.
Draco shook his head, clearly startled by the change of subject. "Oh. Uh, yes."
With a wave of his wand, Harry returned the bed to the table he’d transfigured the evening before along with a couple of chairs. Another wave and several items appeared on the surface. "Right," he said again, turning to face Draco who, thank Merlin, no longer looked like he’d just fallen out of bed. "Here’s the thing. You’ve been threatened, someone broke into your home, taking a few items and destroying others. You find out someone has been spying on you. Your family has no particular reason to trust the Aurors but you had no other option than coming to us. Then I show up and ... well ... I doubt that’s doing much for your nerves."
"I -"
"It’s not doing much for mine either, truth be told, but then I’m not the one under surveillance with threats being made against him. So. If you have a moment when you just can’t hold things together and keep that armour you wear against the world in place, I’d say that’s more than understandable."
"But -"
"You look like you’re feeling better today." Despite having just woken up, he did look more together, more himself. Less frazzled. That was a good thing. Harry might just be able to remember what a jerk he was if he didn’t fall apart again.
He nodded. "Yes, thanks."
"Better enough to get down to business?" Harry motioned for Draco to take a seat. Draco did, but kept looking at Harry. It was unnerving. "What?"
"Why are you being nice to me?" he finally said. "After ..." He didn’t finish the thought.
"It’s my job."
"Seriously?" That seemed to piss him off. "It’s an Auror’s job to house victims when they have meltdowns? In their own place, no less."
"It’s just a hotel room."
"And it’s yours right now."
Harry shrugged. "Yeah, I’ve been told - by more than a few people - that I have a saving people thing. Apparently I can’t shut that off." He stared meaningfully at Draco. "Even when I probably should."
"But -"
"Look," Harry said, a bit frustrated and more than a bit perplexed by his own actions the evening before. In the light of day, he really did think he might do well to seek professional help. "Don’t read anything into anything. For all we can skirt around the issue, I know you. I know what can get to you. That time when Voldemort was at the manor, it still haunts you. I have my own demons too." Draco made to interrupt, but Harry cut across him. "I knew what was happening and I did what I could to help. That’s all. And now, if you’re to be believed, the crisis has passed and you’re good to go again, yeah?" Draco nodded and Harry said, "Good. Because I’d like to catch this bastard and give you some peace. Then we can both move on with our lives and we never have to speak, ever again."
"I ... "
"So ... back at it, yeah?" Harry took out the three devices and placed them on the table. He scowled at them. "These, unless I’m mistaken, are Ministry issued."
Draco’s hands clenched into fists. "The Ministry is spying on me?"
Harry shook his head. "Not officially, no." At Draco’s raised brow, he elaborated. "I took the liberty of checking this morning before coming over here. There’s no official record of you being tracked. Your father, yes, but not like this. I can’t discuss specifics, but you know that he was under strict conditions in order to remain out of prison. You, however, are not."
"But you said -"
"I said they were Ministry issued. I did not say the current Ministry. It looks to me like they were from the days around the war."
He let that sink in for a moment before Draco said, "So you think the Dark Lord ..."
"His followers, perhaps. He’d taken over the Ministry and I wouldn’t put it beyond some resourceful Death Eater or wannabe to scoop some of these for future use. Suffice it to say the record keeping from those days leaves a lot to be desired."
Draco looked like he might be sick. "So a Death Eater is watching me?"
"Too soon to tell," Harry said. "But I thought you’d want to know. Best to be prepared for all possibilities."
Draco nodded and clenched his teeth. "What next?"
"I’d say that’s up to you."
"How so?"
Harry pointed to the bugs. "I’m working the case, and will do the best I can. But if we need more help - forensics, for instance - that will mean involving more people. Which means others will have access to the recordings. Others at the Ministry."
Draco narrowed his eyes. "What are you suggesting?"
"Oh, I don’t know. That maybe you don’t want people hearing your business."
"I’ve done nothing wrong," he said, his voice defensive.
"Good to know. But are you sure there isn’t something, anything that you wouldn’t want someone to know about you? Something you might have said out loud in your flat? Need I remind you how old some of these are? Can you remember every conversation you’ve had over the past two years?"
"Fine, fine. I get your point."
"I hope so, because I couldn’t guarantee your privacy once these get handed over."
Draco crossed his arms over his chest. "But I’m supposed to be okay with you listening in?"
"Unless there’s a need for me to listen to the recordings, I have no intention of doing so."
"Yeah, right."
"You know what? As hard as you may find this to believe, I don’t actually give a shit what you’ve been doing for the past two years. Or five years, really." He was making it pretty easy for Harry to be angry with him now. "If the investigation requires me to listen to something - say, to determine how long the person or people have been listening in on you - I will do so. Other than that, I just. Don’t. Care."
Draco’s face hardened. "Fine."
"And if you don’t trust me to handle your case professionally, feel free to let Robards know and he’ll be sure to assign someone else to your case."
"I didn’t mean -"
"Whatever, Malfoy. I’ll do my job and I won’t invade your privacy. If there’s a need to listen to anything, I’ll let you know beforehand and you can say yes or no. If that’s not good enough, I don’t know what else to say."
"Harry -"
"Stop calling me Harry!" He stood up and dragged his hands through his hair. "You are not my friend and I mean nothing to you, remember? Because I sure do." Draco looked like he’d been slapped in the face and Harry didn’t much give a shit. He put his hands on the table and leaned in, eyes boring into Draco’s. "All I am to you right now is the Auror that’s going to do his level best to catch the son of a bitch trying to scare you or kill you or whatever. All I need from you right now is to know that you’re okay with me investigating. If you are, then fine. I’ll let you know when the arsehole gets a transmission from the devices and then we can move forward. You can go back home and play like you have no idea you’re being watched." He reached for the Pensieve and sat back down. "Meanwhile, I’ll try to piece these memories together into something you can use for a hint of privacy."
"I -"
"Are we good? Everything clear? You okay with me continuing on the case?"
Draco pursed his lips and looked very much like someone who wanted to argue. Instead, through his teeth he said, "Fine. Stay on the case." He got up and gathered his things to go. "And I have your word you won’t -"
"For fuck’s sake, Malfoy. I told you I won’t poke around in your business. I honestly can’t think of anything I’d want to do less right now."
"Right." He stood there for a few moments but when Harry didn’t look up, eventually said, "You know where to find me."
"Yeah."
The silence left in the wake of Draco’s Apparition pressed in all around Harry. Well that went well. Fuck. Why did he let the stupid git get to him? As if Harry wanted to listen to Draco’s voice any more than he had to. Listen to him talking to anyone and everyone he brought over to his flat. Yeah, that would be a treat. It would serve him right if Harry handed the case off to someone else. Someone like Ron, who’d love nothing more than to root around in Draco’s private life, just looking for something to have on him, even if it wasn’t anything illegal.
Harry ran his hand through his hair and only just stopped himself yanking a wad of it out. No one but Draco - no one - could get him this worked up. He needed to calm the fuck down. His emotions were a roller coaster right now and he risked being sent to the Janus Thickey ward if he wasn’t careful.
He set to work putting together a reel of Days in the Life of Draco Malfoy, arsehole.
What fun.
Continued in Part 7
Author: sesheta_66
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Word Count: 2.5K
Rating: Eventual NC-17
Warning: none
Summary: Harry’s world is upended when he’s asked to investigate a break-in and threats levied at Draco Malfoy. He’s never told anyone about their short-lived but intense relationship, and now, five years after it ended, doesn’t seem the time. He’s a professional, so he will investigate, find and arrest the culprit, and get on with his life. What else can he do?
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
To start at the beginning, click here.
Or to read at AO3, click here.
[Malicious Intent - Part 6]
Malicious Intent - Part 6
Harry stared at the door, wondering if Draco was already awake. Or if he was even still inside. He also wondered why in the bloody hell he always - always - managed to get himself into these situations. Well, not this precise situation, of course. But ... for some reason that may never be entirely clear to himself, Harry couldn’t just hand this case off. Nor could he, apparently, remain as angry as he bloody well should be at Draco. He’d just looked so broken last night and Harry couldn’t help it. He couldn’t not help him. Couldn’t just leave him to deal with his own shit. Merlin, he really was a sucker.
It was that fucking dragon. It had thrown him off. And then he’d had to, of course, relive that stupid day all over again. Stir up all those old feelings he’d tried to leave behind. Cut open the wound and leave himself open for ... what, exactly? More pain? God, he was an idiot. And then that stupid, masochistic side of him had kept poking at Harry, wondering if Draco really did still care. Because if he didn’t, why would he have kept such a trinket? It certainly didn’t match his taste, which was decidedly more upscale.
When he’d got home, Ginny had already been asleep, which he’d been thankful for. He knew he couldn’t discuss the case with her, and knew she’d be angry at him for taking it - she still hated Draco and likely always would. But more than that, he doubted he’d have been able to school his features to hide just how shaken up he was. And she was stubborn. She would not have easily let that go. He’d spent a few restless hours replaying his and Ginny’s lives together over the past few years. It had been good. It was still good. Comfortable. Good friends. Supportive family. Everything was good. Really good. That spark they’d had back in school ... well, that always fades over time, right? You get to know each other and settle into a comfortable life. And that’s what they had. Bringing up some short-lived whirlwind whatever-it-had-been with Draco from years ago was stupid. It wasn’t healthy. They’d never have lasted anyway, right? But then that stupid dragon popped into his head again and his mind started reeling once more. Eventually, he’d managed to drop off to sleep.
In the clear light of the morning, however, he’d managed to rustle up a bit of anger as he focussed not on the good times he and Draco’d had, but on their last conversation. On how Draco had dismissed him as though he’d meant nothing. That they’d meant nothing. That anger had prompted another thought, something he hadn’t considered while he was in Draco’s flat. Perhaps he’d kept the stupid thing as a reminder of just how wonderfully gullible Harry was. How he’d finally been able to best him at something. How he’d been able to hurt Harry. Really hurt him. Harry didn’t want to think that Draco was that horrible, but he’d been wrong about him before, hadn’t he?
He glared at the door and tried once more to channel his anger. Protect himself from his own weakness. And Draco was his weakness. But he was a fucking Auror, damn it, and he could do this. Maybe it would be better if Draco had already left. He took a few calming breaths, steeled himself and knocked. No response. He knocked again. "It’s me."
He heard some shuffling and then the door opened. Well, shit. Draco had clearly still been sleeping and he stood there looking ... fuck ... like he’d just crawled out of bed. Not helpful. "This is your hotel room," he said, stiffling a yawn. "You shouldn’t have to knock."
Harry shrugged. "Maybe, but I told you that you could stay here and -" He thought back to a night years ago when he’d accompanied Dumbledore to see Slughorn "- it would be rude to just barge in."
Draco blinked, straightened up and brushed off his sleeves, though Harry saw no evidence of anything there. "About that." He took a fortifying breath before looking Harry in the eyes. "I ... thank you. I don’t know what came over me."
"Relax," Harry said, going inside and closing the door behind him. "I can’t imagine how I would have reacted if I’d just found out that someone had been spying on me, in my home, for months, if not years. It’s understandable."
"Still. I don’t usually ..." He ran his hand through his hair and, unlike Harry’s, it settled neatly into place. Of course it did. "I’m generally pretty good at keeping it together."
"Right." Harry motioned towards the bed. "You done with that? I could use a table to work at." And I could really do without having a bed in the room with us.
Draco shook his head, clearly startled by the change of subject. "Oh. Uh, yes."
With a wave of his wand, Harry returned the bed to the table he’d transfigured the evening before along with a couple of chairs. Another wave and several items appeared on the surface. "Right," he said again, turning to face Draco who, thank Merlin, no longer looked like he’d just fallen out of bed. "Here’s the thing. You’ve been threatened, someone broke into your home, taking a few items and destroying others. You find out someone has been spying on you. Your family has no particular reason to trust the Aurors but you had no other option than coming to us. Then I show up and ... well ... I doubt that’s doing much for your nerves."
"I -"
"It’s not doing much for mine either, truth be told, but then I’m not the one under surveillance with threats being made against him. So. If you have a moment when you just can’t hold things together and keep that armour you wear against the world in place, I’d say that’s more than understandable."
"But -"
"You look like you’re feeling better today." Despite having just woken up, he did look more together, more himself. Less frazzled. That was a good thing. Harry might just be able to remember what a jerk he was if he didn’t fall apart again.
He nodded. "Yes, thanks."
"Better enough to get down to business?" Harry motioned for Draco to take a seat. Draco did, but kept looking at Harry. It was unnerving. "What?"
"Why are you being nice to me?" he finally said. "After ..." He didn’t finish the thought.
"It’s my job."
"Seriously?" That seemed to piss him off. "It’s an Auror’s job to house victims when they have meltdowns? In their own place, no less."
"It’s just a hotel room."
"And it’s yours right now."
Harry shrugged. "Yeah, I’ve been told - by more than a few people - that I have a saving people thing. Apparently I can’t shut that off." He stared meaningfully at Draco. "Even when I probably should."
"But -"
"Look," Harry said, a bit frustrated and more than a bit perplexed by his own actions the evening before. In the light of day, he really did think he might do well to seek professional help. "Don’t read anything into anything. For all we can skirt around the issue, I know you. I know what can get to you. That time when Voldemort was at the manor, it still haunts you. I have my own demons too." Draco made to interrupt, but Harry cut across him. "I knew what was happening and I did what I could to help. That’s all. And now, if you’re to be believed, the crisis has passed and you’re good to go again, yeah?" Draco nodded and Harry said, "Good. Because I’d like to catch this bastard and give you some peace. Then we can both move on with our lives and we never have to speak, ever again."
"I ... "
"So ... back at it, yeah?" Harry took out the three devices and placed them on the table. He scowled at them. "These, unless I’m mistaken, are Ministry issued."
Draco’s hands clenched into fists. "The Ministry is spying on me?"
Harry shook his head. "Not officially, no." At Draco’s raised brow, he elaborated. "I took the liberty of checking this morning before coming over here. There’s no official record of you being tracked. Your father, yes, but not like this. I can’t discuss specifics, but you know that he was under strict conditions in order to remain out of prison. You, however, are not."
"But you said -"
"I said they were Ministry issued. I did not say the current Ministry. It looks to me like they were from the days around the war."
He let that sink in for a moment before Draco said, "So you think the Dark Lord ..."
"His followers, perhaps. He’d taken over the Ministry and I wouldn’t put it beyond some resourceful Death Eater or wannabe to scoop some of these for future use. Suffice it to say the record keeping from those days leaves a lot to be desired."
Draco looked like he might be sick. "So a Death Eater is watching me?"
"Too soon to tell," Harry said. "But I thought you’d want to know. Best to be prepared for all possibilities."
Draco nodded and clenched his teeth. "What next?"
"I’d say that’s up to you."
"How so?"
Harry pointed to the bugs. "I’m working the case, and will do the best I can. But if we need more help - forensics, for instance - that will mean involving more people. Which means others will have access to the recordings. Others at the Ministry."
Draco narrowed his eyes. "What are you suggesting?"
"Oh, I don’t know. That maybe you don’t want people hearing your business."
"I’ve done nothing wrong," he said, his voice defensive.
"Good to know. But are you sure there isn’t something, anything that you wouldn’t want someone to know about you? Something you might have said out loud in your flat? Need I remind you how old some of these are? Can you remember every conversation you’ve had over the past two years?"
"Fine, fine. I get your point."
"I hope so, because I couldn’t guarantee your privacy once these get handed over."
Draco crossed his arms over his chest. "But I’m supposed to be okay with you listening in?"
"Unless there’s a need for me to listen to the recordings, I have no intention of doing so."
"Yeah, right."
"You know what? As hard as you may find this to believe, I don’t actually give a shit what you’ve been doing for the past two years. Or five years, really." He was making it pretty easy for Harry to be angry with him now. "If the investigation requires me to listen to something - say, to determine how long the person or people have been listening in on you - I will do so. Other than that, I just. Don’t. Care."
Draco’s face hardened. "Fine."
"And if you don’t trust me to handle your case professionally, feel free to let Robards know and he’ll be sure to assign someone else to your case."
"I didn’t mean -"
"Whatever, Malfoy. I’ll do my job and I won’t invade your privacy. If there’s a need to listen to anything, I’ll let you know beforehand and you can say yes or no. If that’s not good enough, I don’t know what else to say."
"Harry -"
"Stop calling me Harry!" He stood up and dragged his hands through his hair. "You are not my friend and I mean nothing to you, remember? Because I sure do." Draco looked like he’d been slapped in the face and Harry didn’t much give a shit. He put his hands on the table and leaned in, eyes boring into Draco’s. "All I am to you right now is the Auror that’s going to do his level best to catch the son of a bitch trying to scare you or kill you or whatever. All I need from you right now is to know that you’re okay with me investigating. If you are, then fine. I’ll let you know when the arsehole gets a transmission from the devices and then we can move forward. You can go back home and play like you have no idea you’re being watched." He reached for the Pensieve and sat back down. "Meanwhile, I’ll try to piece these memories together into something you can use for a hint of privacy."
"I -"
"Are we good? Everything clear? You okay with me continuing on the case?"
Draco pursed his lips and looked very much like someone who wanted to argue. Instead, through his teeth he said, "Fine. Stay on the case." He got up and gathered his things to go. "And I have your word you won’t -"
"For fuck’s sake, Malfoy. I told you I won’t poke around in your business. I honestly can’t think of anything I’d want to do less right now."
"Right." He stood there for a few moments but when Harry didn’t look up, eventually said, "You know where to find me."
"Yeah."
The silence left in the wake of Draco’s Apparition pressed in all around Harry. Well that went well. Fuck. Why did he let the stupid git get to him? As if Harry wanted to listen to Draco’s voice any more than he had to. Listen to him talking to anyone and everyone he brought over to his flat. Yeah, that would be a treat. It would serve him right if Harry handed the case off to someone else. Someone like Ron, who’d love nothing more than to root around in Draco’s private life, just looking for something to have on him, even if it wasn’t anything illegal.
Harry ran his hand through his hair and only just stopped himself yanking a wad of it out. No one but Draco - no one - could get him this worked up. He needed to calm the fuck down. His emotions were a roller coaster right now and he risked being sent to the Janus Thickey ward if he wasn’t careful.
He set to work putting together a reel of Days in the Life of Draco Malfoy, arsehole.
What fun.
Continued in Part 7