Roommate Wanted

Draco tossed the pan with an expert flick of his wrist, and then tipped out the vegetables onto a waiting plate.

"Order for table thirteen!" a waitress said as she clipped the order onto the metal strip above the stove.

"Coming up," Draco answered.

The maitre'd of the restaurant stuck his head into the kitchen door.

"Draco, there's a call waiting for you in your office," he said.

"Thanks, Mike. Pete, can you take care of this order for me? Thanks."

Draco left the kitchen, pushed open his office door and picked up the phone that was lying on the desk.

"Hello?"

"Draco, is that you?"

"Yes. Who's speaking?" Draco asked, trying to place the slightly familiar voice.

"It's Pansy! Pansy Parkinson? I got your office number from Blaise," Pansy said.

"Pansy! How have you been? God, it's been ages! I haven't seen you since Blaise's engagement party."

"I know! We've got to catch up. Listen, I need to ask you a favour," Pansy said.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Um, are you free tonight? My sitter bailed on me, and I need someone to take care of Caitlin. I tried calling Blaise, but he's in Paris, so he suggested calling you."

Fuck. I'm going to kill Blaise. Bastard, Draco thought.

"Draco? Are you there?"

"Yeah, sorry, Pans. Um...are you sure there's no one else?" Draco asked desperately.

"Yes. My parents are out of town, so are my in-laws. I'm sorry to do this, Drake, but you're my last resort." Draco detected the slight desperation in her voice.

He sighed.

"Fine. Can you bring her over tonight? You have my new address, right?"

They made the necessary arrangements. Draco put down the phone and closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Urgh!" he let out a frustrated groan as he thought about what he'd just gotten himself into. Taking care of Pansy's four year old daughter for a whole night...What the hell was I thinking?! Ugh...I hate kids.

His mobile phone rang suddenly, and Draco reached for it, flipping open the slim silver machine.

"Hello?" Draco asked irritably.

"Hi, Draco, it's Jake."

"Oh, hi Jake! What's up?"

"Just wondering if I can change our date to tonight. Something came up for tomorrow."

"Yeah...okay," Draco answered, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes.

"Cool! Same place and time. See you!"

Draco hung up. Then thought about what he just did.

"SHIT!" he yelled, sitting up straight in his chair.

"Harry! Harry! HARRY!" Draco shouted as he hammered on Harry's bedroom door.

About two minutes later, Harry appeared, eyes half closed, and wearing only a rumpled pair of pyjama pants.

"What?" he muttered.

"I need some help," Draco said.

Harry rubbed his eyes and shuffled out into the living room, flopping down on the couch.

"What do you want?"

"Can you do me a huge favour and baby-sit a friend's kid tonight?" Draco asked quickly.

"Urgh...no. I hate kids. And they hate me," Harry replied.

"Please, Harry! Please, please, please?! I'll cook and clean up for a month!" Draco practically begged.

"Whose kid is it? And why can't you baby-sit?" Harry asked.

"Pansy Parkinson's. And long story...but somehow my date with Jake got changed to tonight," Draco replied. "Come on, Harry!"

Draco made his best puppy dog face.

Harry looked at him irritably with a frown, then sighed.

"Fine! But you promised! A month, no less!"

Two hours later, Pansy had dropped off Caitlin, and Draco was still in his bathroom, probably doing his hair, Harry thought with a grin as he remembered the bathroom shelf. Another 20 minutes past, and Draco whirled out the door -barely throwing Caitlin a glance- in a cloud of Gucci cologne, and looking absolutely delicious for his date, Harry mused as he gazed out the window forlornly.

"Play dolls with me!" Caitlin whined.

God, I can't believe I'm doing this. Harry thought as he looked at Caitlin.

"Sorry, can't. I have a deadline to meet," Harry said as he pulled a roll of parchment towards him and continued writing out his article, which was due at midnight.

"I'm thirsty!" Caitlin yelled.

Harry sighed and went to the kitchen to get a glass of juice. He sat Caitlin down in front of the television and popped in a Muggle movie, after making sure it didn't contain any explicit language or scenes. Then, he sat down at the table and continued writing.

Ten minutes past.

"Whatcha doing?"

Harry jumped out of his chair and turned around sharply. Caitlin was watching him innocently with the glass of juice in her hand.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"I want another movie! This one's boring."

Harry, muttering colourfully under his breath, went to put in another movie, then returned to find Caitlin standing over his parchment, which was now a juice-covered mess, holding an empty glass.

"FU--FUDGE!" Harry screamed.

"Argh!" he yelled out, turning sharply on his heel and headed over to the fireplace, throwing in a handful of Floo Powder.

Hermione and Dean were watching TV comfortably -translation: making out on the couch - when Harry's head popped up in their fireplace.

"You two! Get over here NOW!" Harry snarled and disappeared.

Two seconds later, Hermione and Dean climbed out of the fireplace in Harry's apartment to find him staring at a pile of wet parchment on the dining table, and a little girl sitting on the couch.

"I'll explain later. But first, can you fix this?" Harry said, pointing at the mess.

Hermione performed a tricky little charm and managed to recover most of the article, although Harry would have to re-write it out. He explained the whole story to them, assuring that Draco will be in a lot of trouble when he gets home, and left Hermione to entertain Caitlin, while sitting back down with his story, muttering angrily.

Later, he found himself out on the balcony, lighting a cigarette as he sent his owl off with the story.

Hermione came up behind him.

"The brat's gone to sleep, finally!" she exclaimed.

Dean appeared on the balcony as well.

"God, Harry. Remember to put an un-breakable charm on your stuff next time you babysit. That imp nearly broke your Tiffany glass bowl--don't worry, its fine," Dean assured him as Harry let out a yelp.

"Oh, please, there won't be a next time," Harry said.

The next morning Harry sat at the dining table, cup of coffee in one hand, the Daily Prophet in the other. It was the first time in a long time that he wasn't out the previous night, drinking and partying. Last night's episode had him too stressed to even think about going to Lumos.

Draco came out from his bedroom and sat down at the table, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

Harry looked up.

"You," he snarled. "Are in so much trouble."

Draco glanced up nervously.

"Oh my god, Harry! I'm so sorry. I should have told you she was a little bitch...just like her mother." Draco frowned darkly.

"Bitch doesn't even begin to describe her! She spilled juice all over my work, rejected two of my favourite movies, ripped Hermione's Dolce top and used my Tiffany bowl as a swimming pool for her fucking doll, almost breaking it!" Harry ranted.

"Ugh, I'm gonna kill Pansy. And Blaise. He's the one that put me up to this!" Draco exclaimed.

"Anyway, I'm so sorry. I'll do anything! Let me take you out to Lumos tonight...all drinks on me. Invite your friends! Anything!"

"Okay- you said it. Unlimited drinks," Harry warned, pointing at Draco.

"Absolutely."

Draco was beginning to regret his offer that night, as Harry threw back yet another tequila shot.

Damn, can that Potter drink, he thought.

Harry had brought along Hermione, Dean and Ron, and Draco offered to pay for all drinks, in return for what they had to go through the previous night.

Harry ordered yet another cocktail, before throwing himself out on the dance floor.

The thudding bass pumped through Harry's body as he swayed his body to the beat, moving his hands through his hair, roaming over his body, waving in the air. He closed his eyes and threw his head back, letting the music flow through and carry him up.

Draco watched him from the bar, finding it hard to take his eyes away. The way Harry danced...god, what a turn-on, Draco thought.

"Draco, Draco?" Hermione was waving her hand in his face.

"Huh? Oh, sorry." Draco shook his head and turned.

"He can dance well, huh?" Hermione asked, nodding towards Harry on the dance floor.

"Oh...yeah," Draco nodded and blushed, embarrassed that he was caught watching.

Harry stumbled over to the bar, throwing his arms around Ron and giving him a loud, smacking kiss on the cheek.

"I love you, Ron! You're such a good friend..." he slurred.

"Whoa, mate, I think you're a little drunk," Ron laughed, and hit Harry with a sobering spell.

"I'm hungry," Harry pouted.

"Wow, that spell worked fast," Ron remarked and signalled to the bartender.

A few minutes later, Harry, Draco and Ron were seated at a small corner table, munching on freshly grilled hamburgers.

"I didn't know nightclubs served meals," Draco commented.

"Harry has special privileges," Ron said, giving Harry a wink.

"What, are you like dating the owner of something?" Draco joked.

"No, I am the owner," Harry replied casually, taking a huge bite out of his burger.