Nobody, nobody, nobody

The woman on the record had a beautiful voice that was both bright and clear and somehow felt sad. Below her singing was the deeper voice of Draco softly singing along.

I've been big and small 

And big and small 

And big and small again

And still nobody wants me

Still nobody wants me

Harry started to step inside and stopped himself, bracing his hand on the door frame. He cleaned his boots and straightened his uniform. He optimistically tried to smooth his hair down.

And I know no one will save me

I'm just asking for a kiss

Give me one good movie kiss

And I'll be alright

Harry knocked on the open door when the singer paused, "Sorry-"

Draco jumped, he looked at Harry in shock for a second then hurried to his feet, pulling the arm off the record with a loud VVPP that made Harry wince.

"Sorry, your door just opened," Harry tried again.

"I didn't want you breaking it down the next time you showed up," Draco said, a pink tinge of embarrassment colouring his cheeks.

"You keyed me into your wards?" Harry asked, trying not to grin like the besotted fool that he was.

"I thought it would be less annoying. Obviously, I was wrong," Draco said, he looked Harry over and frowned, "You're wearing your uniform."

Harry glanced down at himself guiltily, "Er, there was a noise complaint."

Draco's glared at the floor, summoned his shoes, pulling them on so quickly he nearly fell over. He straightened up and said, punctuating every word with a heavy and vindictive stomp on the floor, "A. Noise. Complaint. HOW. UNFORTUNATE. I. Would. HATE. To. Be. Too. NOISY!"

Draco wavered, out of breath. Below them, a dull thumping on the ceiling responded along with a muted yell that Harry couldn't make out other than it likely belonged to an older man.

Draco took off his shoes and threw them back towards the door, dropping back onto his chaise looking drained.

"May I come in?" Harry asked.

Draco nodded.

Harry stepped inside and closed the door behind him, "The apartments weren't built with silencing spells embedded into the floors?"

Draco sighed, "Muffling charms only."

"That's unusual, isn't it?" Harry asked.

"It's to give an authentic 'muggle style' living experience," Draco said, "Radiators instead of fireplaces, muggle style kitchen, muffling charms, a walk up with no lift. I suspect the last one was just to save money."

"Oh," Harry said looking around.

"I know," Draco said shortly, "If I wanted to know what it was like to live like a muggle I should have just done it. I was going to. I just-" he huffed, "I just didn't."

"Well, this isn't too bad. I mean muggles live pretty similarly, just with more... things that they need because they don't have magic," Harry said.

Draco brushed his hair back, "And I normally cast a silencing charm before I listen to my records but it wasn't that loud, and it's the middle of the day."

"Yeah but next time cast a silencing charm," Harry said.

Draco looked away with a snotty, "Yes, Auror Potter."

"I'll be talking to your neighbour as well, about wasting auror time," Harry went on, "Especially since he could have just told you to cast a silencing charm, or cast one himself."

"You will?"

Harry nodded. He hesitated and added, "I spoke with my senior auror about your file. You've been treated with unfair bias considering there was no evidence to back up the claims made against you."

"And you're not biased?" Draco said with surprise.

"I tried not to be," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously, "I'm afraid its the opposite problem now... I'm biased in favour of you."

Draco's eyes went wide.

"I know I should recuse myself of any calls involving you, but I want to make sure Patterson fixes things, and you're actually treated fairly first. As long as you're alright with it." Harry said.

"I don't mind," Draco said quickly, "I don't mind in the slightest."

Harry smiled in relief, "Okay. But just so you know, you can always report me for biased or inappropriate behaviour."

Draco rolled his eyes, "You? Mister Do-gooder-Gryffindor?"

"Me or any other auror," Harry emphasised.

"And they wouldn't just throw it out?" Draco asked.

Harry thought for a moment, "Submit the memory of the event along with the form and make sure to direct it to Senior Auror Patterson. He dislikes everyone, but he's fair."

Draco nodded carefully, toying with the sleeve of his jumper. "...Do you have time for tea?" he asked.

"I haven't had lunch, I could take my break now," Harry said.

Draco glanced at the clock, "It's late for lunch isn't it?"

"...It's sort of a new habit, I guess," Harry said, rather than the truth, which was he had started taking his lunch late just on the off chance he got to see Draco.

Draco stood up and walked over to the kitchen taking a stack of menus stuck to the fridge with a large peacock magnet, "Do you like Tastee's Sandwiches and Sweets?"

"Yeah, I've only been in a few times though," Harry said joining Draco and looking at the menu over his shoulder.

Draco glanced over his shoulder shyly, "We could get the quiche? I love their quiche."

Harry nodded, meeting Draco's eyes with a smile, "Yeah, sounds great."

.

.

Harry showed his notebook to the muggle woman, "This address you gave is correct? You may be contacted again if we have further questions about the incident."

"Yes, that's correct," she said, tugging irritably on the edges of a polyester jacket that was the most unpleasant shade of green Harry had ever seen. She was also wearing a rain hat, sort of, it looked like a sheet of clear plastic with two bits of string that tied under her narrow chin.

"If that's everything officer?" she asked, "I swear, You people act like I have nothing better to do with my day, I've spoken to two different officers before you! I have my shopping to get to, you know!"

Harry nodded, "Yes, that's everything. Thank you for your assistance M'am."

The woman stomped off before Harry could finish touching the brim of his hat. He put his notebook away and headed over Auror Hestle, "That was the last of the witnesses."

Hestle nodded, barely sparing Harry a glance. He headed towards the other aurors, "Perimeter secure! Move into phase two!"

Harry stifled a sigh and looked around. A muggle shop on the corner had been half destroyed, a large sphere of material taken out of the side and digging halfway through the pavement. Luckily it was the middle of a drizzly overcast sort of day, so not many people were on the street when the half-blood toddler had thrown the tantrum that tore the building open.

Down the street, something else caught his eye, a small, old fashioned looking theatre. The movies billed on the marquee above the doors sounded familiar. Harry squinted through the drizzle trying to place them.

"Harry Potter?"

Harry turned around, "Yes?"

"I thought so," the woman said. She looked older than Harry although that wasn't saying much. She had the sharpest suit on that Harry had ever seen, her head was shaved, and the fine rain had dewed up on her dark skin like beads of glass. "I'm Ki," she held out her hand, and Harry shook it, "I'm with the memory modifiers."

"Oh, so you're-"

"Don't," Ki said.

Harry raised his eyebrows.

Ki sighed, "Fine, just say it."

Harry grinned, "You're with MOM."

"Yes," Ki said flatly, "Why they had to rename the department, Mind Obliviaters and Modifiers instead of just leaving it at Obliviators, I'll never understand."

"The Ministry loves an acronym," Harry said, "And you do more modification than oblivation nowadays."

"At least we don't have to wear muggle police uniforms," Ki said, looking down pointedly at Harry heavy waterproof jacket with its large reflective stripes.

Harry shrugged, "Keeps me dry."

"Hat's not too bad," Ki conceded.

Harry tipped his peaked cap to her.

"Officer," Ki said solemnly.

Harry gestured to the smashed shop, "What's the memory of this been turned into?"

"Car accident, bloke was pissed and hit the gas instead of the brake, pretty standard," Ki said.

Harry nodded.

Ki smiled knowingly, "Yeah, about that. I've seen you around before, and I thought I'd fill you in since it seems like no one else wants to."

Harry frowned, "What?"

"I dated an auror for a while, and they told me a few things. One being that you might be a snitch brown-noser."

Harry's eyes widened, "But I'm not-"

"Might be," Ki repeated, "You and your friends were made aurors by the Minister of Magic himself. You and Shaklebolt seem pretty chummy, and even if you aren't, he still listens to you more than he would any other auror. The other aurors don't know if they can trust you."

Harry frowned, "...that explains a lot actually."

"Two," Ki went on, leaning forward and emphasising every word, "You haven't done the training."

"But-"

"You haven't done the training," Ki said.

Harry stared at her.

"You want to be doing paperwork and mop-up for the rest of your life?"

"No."

Ki nodded, "Then do the training. It's the other reason no one can trust you. You don't know the standard way of things, you don't know the protocols, you haven't done the drills, you don't know any of it and until you do you aren't going to be allowed to do anything else. You would put you and everyone around you in danger."

Harry pulled off his hat and ran his hand roughly through his hair, the rain cool on his forehead.

"Don't mean to be a damper on you, just thought you ought to know," Ki said.

Harry nodded, "No, it's fine. Thanks for telling me." His eyes caught the movie theatre marque again, and he stared at it, thinking of nicer things.

Ki turned, following his gaze, "Oh... looks like one of those theatres that plays lots of old movies, huh?"

"Are any of those romantic movies?" Harry asked, wondering if she might have a better idea than him.

"Just because I said I was dating an auror doesn't mean I'm available now," Ki said.

Harry jumped, his face feeling hot as he quickly explained "No! No! I was going to ask- there's someone I've been chatting with, and I want to take them out, but I don't really know much about movies. That's all."

"Oh," Ki said, "Alright." She looked at the marquee again. "I don't really watch the older stuff but... like Casablanca's like one of those old romance movies they say you've gotta see."

Harry nodded, "Alright. And thanks for the advice."

Ki smiled, "I look forward to working with you in the future, properly next time."

.

.

Harry's pen hovered over the blank piece of parchment uncertainly.

The counter clerk cleared his throated loudly and pointedly.

Harry glanced up and then behind him at the empty post office. He looked back at the old man whose expression of annoyance hadn't wavered.

Harry looked back down at his paper wishing he had waited and flooed over to the Burrow to borrow one of their owls. Except he couldn't wait that long. He wrote-

Hey, do you want to go see a movie with me tomorrow?

Harry

Harry hesitated and then quickly rolled up the letter and tied it to the leg of the waiting owl, passing over a sickle to the waiting post clerk. He considered waiting for a response but decided against it. By the time he got back to his flat, an owl was waiting for him.

Harry dumped his jacket on the floor and kicked the door shut behind him, running to the window and opening it for the pretty little brown owl on the sill. She flew inside and landed in the table. Harry reached for the message tied to her leg, and the owl jumped back with a reproachful hoot. He tried again, and she spread her wings.

"What do you want from me owl?" Harry asked, dropping into a chair.

The owl narrowed her eyes, watching to make sure Harry wasn't going to reach for her before hopping forward until she was close enough to touch. Harry raised his hand, and she very deliberately moved the letter back behind her body.

Harry raised an eyebrow, moving his hand very slowly forward, fulling expecting to be nipped for his efforts. Instead, she leaned forward, so his fingers just touched her feathers. Harry nearly laughed as she leaned into his touch. He pet her for ten minutes before she finally allowed Harry to take off the letter.

"Thank you," Harry said shaking his head as he unrolled the note of parchment.

I see your handwriting hasn't improved in the slightest since school, Potter, but I suppose despite that I could go to see a movie with you. You didn't say where and when. I've told Florence to wait for a reply. If I don't receive one, I shall assume you didn't manage to win her over.

D.M.

Harry smiled and scrounged up a pen and piece of paper to write back.

And I see your handwriting is as posh and pretentious as always. Also, your owl is a menace. I have to admit I'm wasn't sure you'd even know what a movie was. There's a show tomorrow at half seven if that works for you.

Harry

This time he was prepared to pet Florence for a minute or two before attempting to tie his message to her leg. She looked annoyed when he stopped petting her and even more annoyed that he expected her to work.

"Come on," Harry prompted her as he held the window open, "I'm sure I'll see you again soon."

Florence slowly unfolded her wings and hopped off the table flying back across town to Draco's flat. Harry had finished making a cuppa when he heard the tap-tap on his window of Florence's return.

Harry let her in and sat at the table, brushing her soft feathers as he sipped his tea.

"Owls aren't supposed to like being pet, you know?" Harry told her.

Florence gently bit his fingers for pausing.

Harry grinned, "Right, right."

He finally managed to get the letter off Florence, continuing to pet her as he read.

Of course, I know what a movie is, quite a few of the books I've read talk about them. You can pick me up at six tomorrow.

And you can't judge Florence, she was hand reared, and I don't have a lot for her to do these days. She's just feeling a bit neglected.

And below that, there was a rather large blotch of ink on the parchment. Draco had charmed it away but not quickly enough, and it had left a shadow of ink embedded in the paper.

I look forward to seeing you.

Draco

Harry grinned at Florence whose eyes were closed in contentment at being spoiled with attention. "I have a date."

Florence half opened one eye.

"With Draco," Harry said.

Florence closed her eyes unconcerned, as Harry wondered what he should wear tomorrow.