Orion Veyne
Draco strode through the bustling corridors of the Ministry, a stack of parchment tucked under his arm. He had just finished filing a report on the previous mission with Orion, and the sheer monotony of the task had left him in a sour mood.
As he turned a corner, he nearly collided with Harry Potter, who was walking briskly in the opposite direction.
“Malfoy,” Harry said, his tone neutral but tinged with curiosity.
“Potter,” Draco replied curtly, stepping aside to avoid further contact.
But Harry didn’t move. Instead, he crossed his arms and gave Draco a look that was both scrutinizing and amused. “Got a minute?”
Draco sighed. “If I say no, you’ll badger me until I give in, won’t you?”
Harry smirked. “Probably.”
“Fine,” Draco muttered. “What is it?”
Harry leaned against the wall, his expression shifting to something more serious. “I wanted to ask you about Orion Veyne.”
Draco raised an eyebrow. “What about him?”
“You’ve been working with him closely, right? What’s he like?” Harry asked, his green eyes narrowing slightly.
Draco frowned, unsure of where this was going. “Why do you care?”
“Because he’s… different,” Harry said, choosing his words carefully. “Powerful. Charismatic. And, frankly, he’s not like anyone I’ve worked with before. I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or not.”
Draco snorted. “That sounds about right. Orion’s got a knack for making an impression, whether you want him to or not.”
Harry tilted his head. “And? What do you think of him?”
Draco hesitated, unsure of how much to share. Orion was infuriatingly cocky, but he was also undeniably skilled and had saved Draco’s life more than once.
“He’s… competent,” Draco said finally. “A bit too full of himself, but he gets results.”
Harry raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “That’s it? No concerns?”
Draco’s jaw tightened. “He’s got his secrets, Potter. But who doesn’t? If you’re looking for a reason to distrust him, you won’t get it from me.”
Harry studied him for a moment, as if weighing his words. “Secrets can be dangerous, Malfoy. Especially in our line of work.”
Draco’s eyes narrowed. “You think I don’t know that? Orion might be a mystery, but he’s not reckless. And, for what it’s worth, he requested to work with me. That’s not something I take lightly.”
Harry looked surprised at that. “He requested you?”
“Yes,” Draco said curtly. “So, unless you have evidence that he’s up to something, I suggest you stop digging.”
Harry nodded slowly, though the thoughtful crease in his brow didn’t disappear. “Fair enough. Just… keep an eye on him, will you?”
Draco smirked. “Don’t worry, Potter. I always do.”
As Harry walked away, Draco couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling settling in his chest. He knew Orion was a wild card, but he also knew that, for better or worse, they were bound together in this work. Whether that would lead to triumph or disaster was still anyone’s guess.