Drarry One Shots

A Happy Misunderstanding

A/N I have very recently got back from a very brief visit to Berlin, a unique city with a turbulent history long before it became the capital of unified Germany. I was inspired to write this story afterwards and it's dedicated to @Dennis-Jayden. The story is based on a tourist visit to the centre of this wonderful and multifaceted city and what was East Berlin, I imagine living there would be very different experience – not something I'd attempt to write because it would be obvious I didn't know. I apologise if it becomes a bit of a history lesson or a bit political at times but this aspect of Berlin is what made the visit so fascinating, as well as poignant, emotional, moving, and, as Draco says here, profound. Some of the conversations are mirrors of conversations I had while there. I have tried my hardest to make sure that the information is factually correct and it's carefully researched because it deals with such important material.

Narrated by Draco, in case it's not clear.

***

We had ended up with a few free days in Berlin. Surprisingly, the job itself was wrapped up pretty quickly and that left us with a few days to spare. It was odd, to be at a loose end with Harry and with leisure time together for just the two of us. Normally, there were others around or Harry was being whisked off for something or another because the British Ministry of Magic were intent on fast tracking Harry to Minister for Magic or some such promotion he really didn't want but seemed incapable of refusing. It always surprised me that even as Assistant Head Auror, he took me with him, insisted I still partner him. I supposed that led the way with the other Aurors who might still want to ostracise me. Perhaps, after seven years, I finally proven myself and was accepted as part of the team. I was glad, I loved my job, though it was made better because of him. Still, I always imagined that as he progressed through the ranks, he'd leave me behind and eventually partner Robards. Apparently not.

I guess he still insisted on our work partnership because we fit well together: there was an intuition, an understanding between us based on all those years of fierce competition at school. And a protectiveness. I suppose that saving each other's lives all that time back then meant we weren't too willing to let all that effort go to waste. Plus, I wasn't about to be labelled as the one who let the Wizarding World's Saviour die. I think some of his previous Auror partners (after Ron had left to help run the shop) were all too inclined to think Harry was invincible. Yes, he a was good at his job, but he was still a rash idiot sometimes and needed me to remind him of that and bring out his Slytherin side.

On top of that, we'd become friends. Surprising, I know, after our school days but one didn't go through experiences like a war without either walking in opposite directions or finding an unbreakable bond. That had started all because of a set of ghastly dress robes. He'd practically worn his school robes to the first Ministry function after the war and I told him bluntly, in my roundabout way, that he needed better formal-wear robes. He somehow made it seem like I'd offered to take him shopping. I think that was the turning point in our antagonistic relationships, especially because we went out and got drunk together afterwards and discovered we could actually make each other laugh. It progressed from shopping for dress robes to everyday wear, apparently, he appreciated my opinion. After that, at any social function we invariably found that we'd drifted together or our paths naturally converged. It got to a point when Harry would always check if I was going before he accepted the latest invite. He said that I kept him sane and out of trouble. He'd also check what to wear. We'd become firm friends by the time we'd left the Auror training corps together.

Admittedly, during work hours, we rarely talked about life outside the Ministry, apart from those long dark nights of stake-outs when we'd talked about everything and anything. But we never talked about the past beyond our initial stilted apologies, and we certainly never talked about our love lives (or lack thereof in my case). I only knew he'd split up with Ginevra Weasley because it was in the newspapers, the reason was not given but he looked tortured for a while. Then, surprisingly, it was in the papers that he was spotted with a man... kissing a man... Harry never talked about it. Ron and Mione never spoke about it either, there was some unspoken agreement. The current boyfriend's name was Felix; they occasionally went to Ministry functions together. They'd been together for a couple of years but I didn't particularly like him. I don't think Ron and Mione did either. He was inoffensive enough but there was just something about him that didn't fit. I thought Harry could do better. However, it was none of my business, his happiness was more important.