(HP Đồng nhân Eng) Seven Years Too Late

Chap 4

From his position at the base of the wide, curving staircase, Harry was sure he could see the color drain right out of Draco's face when the blond looked down and saw him, even though the club was not brightly lit.

Suddenly a curly brunette woman was smiling at Harry. She looked vaguely familiar, and then he realized he had seen her at the same school Draco taught at. 

"Hello, you're Harry Potter, right? I'm Deirdre Crowder, a friend of Draco's. Pleased to meet you,"
she greeted holding out her hand. 

Harry took ahold of the woman's hand, suddenly feeling a stab of jealously as he wondered just how good of friends this woman and Draco were. Did she know about his past with Draco? Was she the blond's girlfriend? 

"Nice to meet you as well," he greeted, plastering on a well practiced smile. 

"And this is Evan Taggart," Dee continued as she introduced the gentleman beside her. Harry shook the man's hand and then he glanced up toward Draco, still seated there like a statue at the table above, his blond hair a gilded crown in the swirling flashes of light.

When his gaze met the Slytherins, though, the blond got up and left the table. Draco walking awayfrom him was becoming a seriously irritating habit. 

"Ah...well...maybe I'll see you later then," Harry said, breaking the infinitesimal lull that marked Dee's silence. 

Dee glanced up at the now empty table and sighed before putting on a bright smile. "Yes, that
would be nice. Margaritas are calling," she joked as she hooked her arm in Evan's and headed back toward the stairs.

Harry walked through the throng of dancers on the floor to get to the back of the club where he was to meet Terry. 

"Harry," his fellow Auror called over the pulse of the music and the Gryffindor made his way over to the small table in the corner and sat down. 

"I've pulled every bit of information I could find,"

Terry stated as he passed over a manila folder that contained at least a half inch of muggle accounting papers and wizarding parchments. 

"What are you looking for particularly?" 

"A common thread," Harry replied as he took the folder.

"Good luck finding it," Terry quipped. "Ron and I have been through it all and didn't see anything amiss, but maybe fresh eyes are whats needed." 

Harry grimaced wryly. 

"It's been a long time since I've considered much of anything about myself to be particularly fresh." Terry's lips quirked at the comment. 

"I hear you there, but I'll still suggest you wait another few years before you say that." 

Harry tapped the folder. "I appreciate the hard copies." 

Harry hadn't wanted the information going in or out of the station house. He wasn't going to do anything to cause questions to be asked about what he was doing, which is why he agreed to meet his Ravenclaw friend here in the club. 

Terry shrugged nonchalantly. "No biggie. Are you settling in all right here?" he asked. He hoped
Harry wasn't having too hard of a time of it being back in a place that held such bad memories for him

"I haven't seen the Dursley's and everyone I have met is pretty friendly." Well except Draco. Not like he had remembered the blond being when they had known each other those years ago. Known. What a pitiful word to describe those few brief, memorable months.