We Were Children

Archie

    A month has passed since Draco's trial.  While Draco had been trying his best to steer clear of crowds, Harry was being bombarded with reporters.

    "Mr Potter! Why did you testify at Draco Malfoys trial?!"

    "I don't think that's any of your-"

    "Potter! Is it true that Malfoy switched sides at the end of the war?!"

    "How long have you been obsessed with Draco Malfoy?!"

    Harry couldn't stand the paparazzi. 

    "Um, if you'll all excuse me I have somewhere to be, y'know, war aftermath and such" he then apparated away before receiving a response.

    He appeared in the middle of knockturn alley. Not an ideal location, but a place where no one would gush over him.

    Harry noticed a shop that stood out from the others, a potions shop of sorts.

    Harry opened the door, and entered the new shop. On one wall stood bookshelves of both student level and advanced potions journals.  The other wall held ingredients, glass vials, cauldrons and more.

    There was a desk against the right corner of the wall across from the door, but no one sat there. There was also a wooden door in the left corner.

    Harry looked around the store, specifically the potions ingredients. There were thing as common as mandrake root, and others such as Phoenix tears which were much more valuable.

    Harry startled when he heard an exploding sound behind the wooden door, followed by a slew of profanities.

    The door swung open, and Harry was greeted with a very familiar face.

    "Malfoy? Is that you?" Harry asked, trying his best to keep from laughing.

    "Potter? What the bloody hell are you doing in knockturn alley?"

    "What the bloody hell are you doing in a potions shop?"

    Draco sighed and brushed off the ashes that dusted his clothes.

    "Well I work here, obviously. Own the place infact." Draco said, leaning against the doorway.

    "Work? You?"

    "Oh sod off you insufferable smart ass. Yeah, I work, as it is how people make a living."

    "Well yeah it's how people make a living, I just did think you'd, y'know, need to make a living."

    "I'd go into detail about my personal life if it was any of your concern Potter, but it's not. So are you here to reminisce or are you here to buy something?"

    "Oh uh, no, I was just checking out the new shop here." Harry mumbled, Draco raised his eyebrows.

    "Ok fine, I was getting away from the reporters."

    "In knockturn alley of all places?"

    "Well clearly people here aren't to fond of me, so that avoids the paparazzi." Draco rolled his eyes and crossed the room towards the potions ingredients.

    "I suppose I'll be off then" Harry said, starting towards the door.

    "Wait, Potter" Harry turned to look at Draco.

   "Thank you.  For what you said, at the trial."

    Harry smiled, then left without another word.

          One year and 7 months later

   
    "How the hell am I supposed to solve a case like this?! I'm barely a first year Auror, and the case file for this thing is practically empty!"