The danger
That was until Harry Potter showed up threatening your delicate peace with Draco. Harry couldn’t find out that you were harboring a fugitive. But if you kept turning him down, the stubborn man may do something stupid like look you up where you live. And that meant he could find out about Draco… Would he immediately give him up to the authorities or would he listen to your pleads? Could he just take him back to Britain or would Canada require an extradition request? Draco’s still so fragile, you couldn’t imagine him surviving in such a grim place as Azkaban. And what about yourself? Would you be tried for helping him? Would you end up in Azkaban by his side? At least then, he wouldn’t be alone …
No, you needed to stop thinking about the worst-case scenario. Harry hadn’t figured them out, yet. He just wanted a meeting. You could do that. Just go there, listen and smile and leave. That should be it. You took a deep breath and resolved to not worry Draco with your predicament. You could manage it. You would make sure he’ll be safe.
Your next encounter with Harry a few days later, had been inevitable. You had tried to leave the project but after talking to Persephone, the Director of the Huendos and your Head of Department, Leonie, you realized that it was impossible. Even though your whole Department was researching Dark Magic, they were mostly doing some obscure and specific research that had nothing to do with tracing and deciphering ley lines. And those, the British Delegation believes, are used to raise the power of the neo–Death Eater. You were the only one who specialized in that topic.
Harry was heading the Special Unit, an unusual move for a Minister but no one questioned it since his power was unmatched, and just came back from a raid of a meeting point of the neo-Death Eaters in Chicago. Or somewhere. Their base was expected to be somewhere in North America. You hadn’t remembered the details because you expected to not be on the team any longer. But you sat there again, the meeting had just been announced an hour ago and most of the team, the Aurors were still in their red coats, looking worn-out from the previous raid. You had appeared in your usual neat working cloak feeling completely out of place until a few more non-operative team members appeared. And at last, of course, Harry Potter himself. Wearing red Auror robes, as if he wasn’t the Leader of Wizarding Britain, which looked nothing like he had just come out of a battle but rather a coffee date. No, do not think about dates and Harry, you scolded yourself. Yes, there would be a date but that’s it.
As soon as he entered the room it the chattering stopped and all eyes went expectingly to him. But his eyes had caught yours and for a few moments it was only you two in the room. Unable to look away, you stared in his brilliant green orbs and felt a twist in your heart. But as soon as the corner of his mouth lifted upwards the spell was broken and you turned away, trying to hide your blush.
Harry then started the meeting which turned out to be long and tedious and honestly disheartening since there were so many things they didn’t know yet about the rising of the neo-Death Eaters. You suspected they found a way to draw their immense powers from ley lines, which you had already discussed with Leonie. She had come a bit late but thankfully took over the input so you didn’t have to speak in the meeting. It was decided that more information about the whereabouts and found equipment was given to you and Leonie so you could try to make sense of the plan of the neo-Death Eaters.
As the meeting drew to an end, you had prepared for a quick escape. Yes, you had made the decision to humor Harry to a meeting, however, seeing him like that, leading this meeting, slightly sweaty from the raid and in these red robes you had never considered to be anything remotely sexy before, you didn’t have it in you today. The meeting was concluded, and you almost ran out of the door, successfully avoiding anybody.
You went back to your office, finishing up your notes and delegating supplementary research for your project to the rest of your team at the Huendos.
You were just about to leave when Persephone entered the office. “Quick, Y/N, we need your help. There has been an accident.” Without another word she was gone and you followed her in your colleagues office.
You had to admit, although all of your colleagues were utterly smart people, sometimes you wonder how any of them survived this long. They tend to have … accidents. Most of them would work ceaselessly in a very specific topic and have no idea of anything else. Some of your colleagues you never saw but buried in huge stacks of books that overtook their offices. Rumor has it falling book stacks are a major source of injury in the Huendos. Right after magical accidents with Dark Magic. Which created one of your tasks since that fell in your department and you had already spent multiple times weeks creating a counter-curse for obscure accidents. Needless to say, all worldly things that required efficiency and working under deadlines was not their thing and it fell to you, like gathering information you needed to help Harry’s team from them.
“Shit, Alfred, hold tight, I’m coming!” You shouted at the collapsed stack of books that seemed to be hovering around a strange orb of blue light. At the center of which you suspected your colleague to be.
Even though, you had no idea what Alfred, your friendly and very old colleague who mostly talks about his pet dragons, did this time, you started to cast spells analyzing the magic in front of you.
It was early in the night when you finally stepped out into the floor of the Ministry on your way to the Apparation point. It did take hours to finally figure out what Alfred had done to make this orb appear and then to figure out how to counter it. Although Leonie had been helpful, most of your other colleagues had just stood there and made random comments. By the end of it your magic was drained and you could hardly walk straight any more.
You were exhausted and had forgotten all about the Harry-Situation as you made your way to the elevator. You were deep in your thoughts when a shadow startled you.
“Shit, Harry, you scared me!” You exclaimed.
“You seem exhausted,” Harry stepped closer to you while his watchful eyes scanned you down and you did everything in your power not to squirm.
Harry had changed his outfit. It was the first time you saw him outside his Ministry or Mission robes in casual Muggle wear. His look reminded you of the Harry you knew – a simple old jeans and a white shirt thrown on. However, they were not oversized like they used to be. No, he filled them out nicely and though the outfit looked effortless, it was stylish. The ensemble showed this man in front of you was no longer a neglected young boy but a confident man. A way too good-looking confident man.
Wait, no, those were the wrong thoughts. Focus, Y/N, you told yourself. How did he even find you? “Did you wait the whole time for me?”
Harry just shrugged his shoulders. “I had a long day too. Care for some dinner?”
You wanted to decline but the rumbling in your belly could not be ignored any longer. And the leftovers from yesterday were probably not enough to feed Draco and you. Plus, it would take some time to prepare dinner at home. Well, screw it, you thought to yourself as you gave a nod to Harry and wrote a text message informing Draco you will be home late.