NUMB WITHOUT YOU | Draco Malfoy

| 32

Harry Potter was a busy man. Never did I expect it would be this difficult to set up a meeting with him, especially considering we were actually friends now. Between working at the Ministry, being captain of his office quidditch team, and continuing to be a poster boy for the end of the war I'm surprised that he even had time for those family dinners with the Weasley's these days.

I had half a mind to show up at Harry's house in the middle of the night again, but Malfoy wouldn't let me. He called it uncouth, and despite everything he still had some of his pureblood morals that kept him in line. This was one of those instances.

I had given up on waiting for Harry to get back to me, and that's how we found ourselves marching into the Ministry early one afternoon. I felt like an Undesirable as people stared at us. Two ex-death eaters with no scheduled business at the Ministry would tend to have that affect on people. They were all staring and talking in whispers.

The last time I had been here I had been on trial. People were still wary of that fact. I kept my head held high until we got on the lift and I let out a shaky breath as all my nervous energy escaped my body.

"It's alright, Aurora. Just remember that we've done nothing wrong." Draco huffed. He seemed uneasy too, but he was just better at keeping it internalized.

"We've done plenty wrong." I glared at him as I pressed my fingers to my temples, "It just hasn't caught up to us yet."

The doors opened to the second floor and we stepped out. I did my best to put on my best air of confidence as I looked around. I didn't spot Harry right away, so I knew we would have to search through the cubicles for him.

"Oi! You can't be in here." A familiar voice called out to me, "This floor is for employees only, or by appointment."

"Relax, Seamus. I'm just looking for Potter." I sighed as he hurried over to me.

Seamus's eyes narrowed, "No exceptions, Dolohov."

"Do you even work in this floor, Finnegan?" Draco asked cooly as he looked at our former classmate with disdain. Seamus turned red with embarrassment.

"No, but I-"

"Then I don't think it's within your jurisdiction to be able to kick us out." Draco smirked, "Who is your boss again? Perhaps I'll write them a letter about additional funding for the department. Though I do suppose some cuts could be made as well."

"I don't need proper clearances to kick out a Death Eater when I see one." Seamus growled as he puffed out his chest. That's what this was, a men's pissing contest over who held the most authority.

"Seamus, I thought we were good now." I frowned. His comment stung even though it wasn't necessarily directed at me. Finnegan was one of the first people I apologized to during my year of reckoning for how poorly I treated him during our school years. We actually got along quite nicely now, and even got lunch together a time or two. This side of Seamus was much more akin to the one I had experienced at Hogwarts.

"You and I are good, Rory. Malfoy and I are not." Seamus spat as he stared daggers at Draco who just smirked back at him. This was so much like dealing with Ron. No wonder the two were friends.

"I'd like to see you try something. Anything really. Go ahead and punch me. I know you're dying to do it." Draco mocked him effortlessly. Seamus looked ready to lunge at any second, so I immediately stood between them hoping it would deter them for just a bit longer.

"Seamus, we just need to speak to Harry. It's very important and time is of the essence." I repeated. I was worried that if Malfoy did provoke him one more time I wouldn't be able to stop the fight that ensued, and we really would get kicked out.