Harry had thought that his days of pining were over. He was in his twenties and mooning over someone as if he was 14 again. And the worst part? This someone hasn't set foot in England since right after his 18th birthday.

Travel was one word that had never been in Harry's vocabulary, but days like these he was wishing it was. His skin still felt refreshed from his recent trip to France, that had ended all too soon in his opinion. He still remembered his first assignment that had him taking an international portkey to the country. It was the first time Harry had ventured out of England, he never counted Hogwarts as he was confined to the castle, and he was determined to enjoy it, even if he was working.

While it was a work trip, Harry still went and created an itinerary for himself. He researched the country for days, and created a very specific schedule of things that he wanted to see and experience, including a pastry baking class.

Travel isn't often made time for when your Auror training was expedited to put you on track to becoming the youngest Head Auror in history, so Harry kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to seem too eager for the job lest they get suspicious. His travel plans were mentioned to no one, and he happily exhaled once he safely reached his destination.

The sun on his face felt amazing, and he tilted his head up to relish in the feeling. That's where the trouble started. He had been in France for all of five minutes when he bumped into someone, causing them to drop their packages.

"I'm so sorry, let me help."

"It's not your fault, it's quite beautiful out. I too was distracted by the sky."

"I hope nothing's broken," Harry said worriedly, extending a hand to help the other man up.

That simple gesture was the catalyst of Harry's life being completely uprooted. He didn't really know happiness, until it was Draco Malfoy who took his hand, squinting at his face in the sunlight. Draco Malfoy, who time had been extremely kind to in the two years that Harry hadn't seen him.

He held his breath, hoping Draco wouldn't recognize him, relaxing when Draco seemed more worried about the contents of his bag than the stranger across from him.

"No, everything is properly accounted for, thank you. Is it your first time here? You-"

Harry's heart dropped, he knew that look on Draco's face, saw how his body language changed, how his body stiffened and his expression became guarded.

"Don't," Harry replied quietly, grabbing his own belongings.

"Is that really you?," Draco questioned, taking a step forward unwillingly. "I almost didn't recognize you, which is fairly impressive considering I stared at you every single day for what, seven years straight?"

"If you want to talk, can we do it elsewhere please? You can walk me to my work accommodations?," Harry emphasized, giving Draco a meaningful look. "I've never really left England before, I don't want to lose my way."

"Where are you staying?"

Harry handed Draco the piece of paper, his itinerary falling out of his pocket as well, quickly being picked up by Draco.

"This is by my flat, I know where it is. Come along P- What do you I call you?," Draco asked quietly.

"Evan. Black. I don't care much one way or the other. Keeping up with me are you?"

"Your tales of greatness are set to haunt me for the rest of my life I'm afraid. Pansy takes great delight in sending me anything with your face on it."

"You probably have Potter boxers out the arse," Harry muttered, his hand covering his mouth. "My most sincere apologies."

"One of my birthday gifts, every year, without fail. I didn't think they could legally even do that."

Harry winced, rubbing the back of his neck.

"It was George's idea and I gave him creative control, which I should not have. If anyone is going to profit off of me and my likeness, it should be them. If he didn't do it, someone else would have."

"These are your accommodations."

The two men lingered outside awkwardly, Harry scuffing the toe of his boot against the ground.

"Would you want to get lunch or something? I don't know anybody here, maybe we could catch up?"

"Oh, I have your list, right."

Draco looked it over, mumbling small comments to himself.

"You chose very popular tourist destinations. They're good, but overpriced. How's dinner tonight?"

Draco never would have suggested it, but if he had to wait until tomorrow to work through this confusion he wouldn't have been able to focus on anything.

"Dinner sounds great. I'm free at 6?"

"I'll come pick you up then."

"I'll see you then Malfoy."

If Harry thought that conversation was odd, dinner was much worse. Harry had unpacked in his hotel room, gone over his case file multiple times, took notes, and then took a quick shower to get ready. He decided on something nicer than his usual casual. With his glasses off and his scar glamoured, Harry made his way outside to wait for Draco.

"Times do change, not only are you on time, you're a few minutes early."

"I'd be awful at my job if I was late to everything, wouldn't I? Shall we go?"

Draco extended an arm and Harry grabbed onto it, thinking he would be side-alonged, but instead they began walking.

"It's only a few minutes of a walk from here. I thought we could talk where privacy charms would be less obvious."

Picking up on the hint, Harry poked his wand out of his pocket and murmured the spell.

"Ask away."

"Maybe I thought you had questions for me."

"Please Malfoy, you're one of the most curious people I have ever met."

"What are you doing here?," Draco finally asked.

Whether he meant in France or with him, he wasn't sure.

"I'm on a mission gathering intel. I won't have to actually step in and do anything yet, I'm just to canvas the area, know the spots, maybe talk to the locals."

"So that's why you need me?"

Draco wasn't stupid enough to read into this more than he should have. There was always something else when it came to the two of them.

"Oh no, that was sheer dumb luck, something I seem to have quite a lot of. I knew you were in France of course focusing on your potions, but I didn't think I'd quite literally bump into you."

"Keeping tabs on me are you?," Draco questioned carefully, working hard to keep his voice neutral.

"Parkinson absolutely adores you," Harry changed the subject.

"Oh yes, I hear quite enough about Granger. Who would've thought the both of them would be working together in magical law?"

"You should see them in the courtroom together. People have walked out crying before."

"Serves them right honestly."

They walked in silence for a few more moments, coming up to the restaurant.

"Reservation for two for Malfoy."

"Of course, right this way. Your usual table Draco?"

"Please."

Once they were seated, Harry asked Draco what he recommended.

"Trust me enough to order for you?," he questioned, a familiar glint in his eye.

"When am I ever one to turn down a challenge from you?," Harry retorted, closing his menu.

"I guess wisdom truly does come with age," Draco drawled with an eye roll, immediately flinching afterwards.

He was surprised when instead of getting offended, Harry laughed.

"Would you believe that I've missed you?," Harry asked, resting on his elbows as he leaned across the table.

"Do tell," Draco replied with a raised brow.

"Everyone else always walks on eggshells around me, scared of upsetting me. You've never cared at all and I've forgotten how refreshing that is. You tell me exactly what you're thinking with... mild regard to my feelings, and I think that's brilliant."

"I can imagine how work can be challenging."

There was a pause in conversation where Draco placed their orders, all in one go to minimize interruptions.

"Are you without a partner then?"

"Romantically or work wise?," Harry teased. "The answer to both of those questions is yes."

"Ah, your recklessness strikes again," Draco replied, his teasing tone matching Harry's prior one.

"It's not easy on either account. I've tried multiple work partners and they either stare and gawk or they're extremely cocky thinking that they're invincible. One almost got himself killed because of it. I had to give him my emergency portkey and send him to Mungo's, where I then took the suspect down alone."

"I have to ask, what's with the lack of glasses?"

"Contact lenses. Helps the cover since I always have them on. Contacts, get rid of the scar, dress a lot nicer, fix my hair, new alias, and I'm quite literally a whole new person. I didn't think I was too likely I'd be recognized here, but the scar is the most telling feature. If word gets out that I'm here, it'll mess up my intel."

Draco had to admit to himself that he liked what he was seeing.

"I almost didn't recognize you myself, I thought I imagined you."

"Imagine me often do you?"

"In times of true crises," Draco replied solemnly, a small smirk playing at the edges of his mouth giving the joke away.

"Enough about me and my work, what have you been up to?"

It had been so long since Draco had had an open conversation like this one. Not only did Harry listen, he asked pointed questions, and Draco was embarrassed by the end of dinner to find that he had been talking almost the whole time.

"I am so sorry Potter. I didn't realize I had taken over the whole conversation with my work."

"What are you apologizing for? Your work is incredibly interesting! I think if potions were presented like that back in school I wouldn't have been utter pants at the subject. That, and if Snape didn't hate me that is.

Besides, it's nice to actually just listen for a change. No one wants to actually talk to me back home unless it's about the war. We could talk about the weather for all I care."

"It seems like you need to get out more."

"You would assume correctly. I don't get out much anymore due to my lack of a partner. They only let me come here alone because I'm 'charming and personable'," Harry quoted, playfully rolling his eyes. "I wouldn't be surprised if when I find them what they want to know I get removed from the case."

"How long are you here for?"

"At least a week? I may be persuaded to stay a bit longer," Harry said pointedly.

"Are you implying you'd like to do this again?"

"I would, yes."

"I'll consider it. What room number are you in?"

"Number 7."

"Did they honestly give you your old jersey number?," Draco asked with a snort.

"Maybe I requested it," Harry replied with a shrug, flagging down the waiter and paying the bill before Draco could even bat an eye.

"I could've paid you know."

"My treat, I invited you out."

"I chose the restaurant and ordered," Draco retorted.

"If you're so hellbent on paying, you can pay next time."

Draco agreed before he knew what hit him.

"Dinner again, same time tomorrow Malfoy?," Harry asked cheekily.

"You're on Potter."

"Brilliant. Let me walk you home?"

"You don't even know where my home is," Draco replied with a laugh, nudging Harry with his elbow.

"Well, I was hoping you did, or else we'll be walking for a while. I wouldn't mind that either."

"Come on will you?"

"What's a must see while I'm here?," Harry questioned as they walked outside.

"That depends on what you're interested in. The food, history, art, wizarding locations? The Eiffel Tower is always a must, it's on everyone's list, you just need to be careful in that area. It truly is a tourist trap."

"Good thing you're not a tourist then."

"I suppose I can arrange some time to take you. How finalized is that list you made?"

"A lot less certain than it was a few hours ago."

"Fair enough. We'll go on a weekday, it's better."

"I'll write you in then," Harry replied with an easy grin.

"Anything else you're doing?"

"Oh I'm taking this pastry baking course while I'm here! I'm very excited about that."

"You like being in the kitchen then?"

"I love it, it's my me time. I rarely ever eat out anymore."

"You'll have to show me what you learn then," Draco suggested, looking anywhere but at Harry.

They had finally reached Draco's flat, and the feeling of sadness at the shortness of the walk surprised Draco.

"Deal. Friday then, once the course is over. I'll have to use your kitchen though."

"As long as you clean up."

"Brilliant. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"I suppose you will. Goodnight Potter."

"Goodnight Malfoy."

Harry sighed at the memory, missing Draco already. This first encounter had been months ago, and Harry couldn't keep finding excuses to show up to visit him anymore. The two men had gotten on like fire to a house, their relationship always borderline explosive.

On that last day where Harry was scheduled to go back, his trip already having been extended by a week, you could almost feel the sadness in the air. Draco had seemed standoffish until Harry promised to write him every single day.

"You better Potter, because if my first trip back to England in years is to kick your arse instead of visiting my own mother, there will be hell to pay."

"I'll miss you too Malfoy."

And with that, Harry had gone, uprooting Draco's life once more, taking a piece of Draco the other man didn't even know he had to give with him. After each subsequent trip, Harry decorated his office with souvenirs Draco sent him back home with. His office looked like France had thrown up all over it, but that's how he liked it. As he had just returned from his trip, he had a few things to place.

Snapping a photo of himself in front of his ever-growing collection as was tradition, Harry grabbed a piece of parchment and began to write.

"Dear Draco,

I've safely returned as usual. At this rate I think I'm going to need a bigger desk to hold all of the things that you keep sending me back with. I'm still hoping one of the things I bring back on my trip will be you. I know you keep saying it'll never happen, but my sheer dumb luck got us this far, I'm hoping it'll bring you back :)

Don't eat all of the pastries in one sitting, that won't bring me back any faster. As soon as I have word of my return, I'll let you know as always. I'll speak with you soon, I'm now on to the grueling task of attempting to file my paperwork. I don't understand how my office gets so messy when I seemingly spend less and less time in it.

Oh well, that's life I suppose. You'll be pleased to find your freezer is filled with leftovers though. Hopefully those will tide you over until I'm back to cook for you again in person.

Yours,

Harry"