Roommate Wanted

"Oh dear god, Madonna, what the hell were you thinking? All that money and no fashion sense..." Hermione said, peering at the magazine on her lap.

"Mmm," Harry murmured, as he intently read an article on his favourite Hollywood actor.

It was a sweltering hot summer day outside and Harry and Hermione were indulging in their favourite pastime with the air-conditioner on full-blast.

Draco came through the front door carrying a grocery bag, red in the face and panting slightly.

"Fuck, it is hot out there. And the bloody lift isn't working," he complained. He pulled his sweaty shirt away from his chest and grimaced.

Draco headed into his room, and returned a short time later.

"Harry, the toilet isn't working," he said.

"Oh. Why don't you call a plumber?" Harry said absentmindedly, picking up the magazine Hermione just abandoned.

"Oh, Draco! Just call Ron. He'll come over and fix it. He's good at that sort of maintenance...stuff," Hermione said, waving at Draco as he walked towards the phone.

Half an hour later, Ron emerged from the bathroom, wiping his hands on a towel.

"It's gonna need a whole new part. I think you should call a professional," he told Draco.

"Why don't you tell my landlord?" Draco said, nodding towards Harry, who was asleep on the couch, snoring lightly.

"Harry!" Ron yelled.

"Hmm! What?" Harry asked, sitting up on the couch, the magazine lying on his naked chest sliding off onto the floor.

Draco left Harry and Ron discussing the toilet and went into the kitchen where he found Hermione mixing a batch of iced tea. Draco opened the fridge and pulled out a piece of chocolate, nibbling on it.

"So, you doing better after the whole...Jake thing?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Harry made me feel a lot better by yelling at me, and then giving me a key," Draco said.

"A key?"

"Yeah, because I passed my probation period."

"Oh! That's sweet," Hermione said, passing Draco a glass of iced tea. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks," Draco said, tasting it and then forcing himself to swallow it.

"Urgh! God!" Hermione sputtered, spitting out her mouthful in the sink. "Why the hell does this taste like shit?"

"Umm, maybe because you put baking soda in there?" Draco said, picking up the container from the counter.

"Oh, oops," Hermione giggled.

Draco wandered over to the fridge, peering at the photo stuck onto the door. It was one of Harry dancing topless on the kitchen counter, the night of his first party in the apartment. Luna had taken the picture, developed it and stuck it on the fridge. The little Harry in the picture whipped off his shirt and winked at Draco.

Hermione watched Draco studying the picture intently with a bemused smile. Both their thoughts were interrupted as Harry and Ron entered the kitchen.

"Bad news, Draco," Ron began, while Harry had an irritated look on his face.

"The plumber won't be able to come until next week, so you're going to have to share Harry's bathroom for a little while," Ron said.

"What?! But, but..." Draco stammered, turning away from the fridge.

"Look, I'm not happy about it either. I know how long you spend in there doing your hair," Harry said.

Draco pouted, while Ron picked up the jug of iced tea, pouring himself a glass.

"Sorry, mates, but it's just a week," Ron said, taking a gulp.

"Arghh! What the fuck?"

After Hermione wiped the spray of iced tea off her face, she left with Ron after reminding Draco and Harry about Dean's birthday party the next week.

"Friday at 7 on the rooftop, guys!" she said, grabbing a bottle of ice water from the fridge, preparing for the long, hot walk down the stairs.

During the next week, Harry was beginning to regret asking Draco to become his roommate. Draco hogged the bathroom every morning and spent an average of two hours inside, while Harry hopped around impatiently outside, trying not to scream for Draco to get the fuck out. Eventually, after nearly missing an important meeting with his editor, Harry was forced to wake up at five am, just so he could use the bathroom before Draco got in first. The week passed by excruciatingly slowly, and when Friday arrived, Harry nearly passed out in delight- the plumber had called and was coming the next morning.

Harry sat on the couch, sighing in frustration, and glanced at the clock for what seemed like the hundredth time. It was already fifteen minutes to seven, and Draco was still in the bathroom.

Harry was considering calling Hermione to say they were going to be late when Draco breezed out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam and cologne, looking as though he had stepped right out of a fashion magazine.

"About bloody time!" Harry huffed, sprinting into the bathroom. He took the quickest shower of his life, cast a drying spell on his hair and jumped into a pair of jeans and a white cotton button-down shirt.

They Apparated to Hermione and Dean's apartment building (after Draco refused to Floo by gesturing to his hair and outfit with a "you've got to be kidding me" look on his face). Then Harry apparated back home to fetch Dean's present, which he'd forgotten the first time, and returned.

They took the lift to the top floor, and then climbed another flight of stairs reaching the door leading to the roof. Harry pushed it open and paused.

"Are you sure this party isn't just for Hermione and Dean?" Draco asked.

There was a small table and two chairs in the middle of the rooftop, laid with a white tablecloth and sparkling cutlery. Along with a chilled bottle of champagne and two crystal champagne flutes, there were dishes of divine looking food, which Harry recognised as takeaway from his favourite restaurant. Candles lined the perimeter of the rooftop and a canopy of white and gold fairy lights hung overhead, twinkling against the darkening sky.

Harry frowned, confused, and stepped nearer, spotting a roll of parchment lying on the table. He picked it up and unrolled it, while Draco read over his shoulder.

Dear Harry and Draco,

It's totally obvious that you two just want to get together, so just make out already!

From your loving friends,

Hermione, Dean and Ron.

"Oh my god! I can't believe them! What do you think of all this!?" Harry asked, gesturing around unbelievingly.

"I think we should eat later," Draco said, before grabbing Harry's wrist and pulling him in to meet their lips in a crashing kiss.

Epilogue

One and a half years later-

Harry exited Honeydukes and crossed the street to Nox, the new café-bar that recently opened in Hogsmeade. He pushed open the door and searched through the crowded space for his friends.

"You're late," Dean remarked as Harry approached the corner table.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Harry!" Hermione squealed, greeting Harry with a kiss on the cheek.

"Happy V-Day, Mione," Harry replied. "And, Dean- since you complained, I guess you don't get any of Honeyduke's Caramel Hearts!" Harry sang as he pulled out the bright red tin from behind his back.

He left his friends fighting over the chocolate and headed for the bar, smiling at the blonde bartender behind the glass-topped counter.

"Love Me, please," Harry ordered, naming the house specialty cocktail.

"I already do," Draco answered.

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Harry cleaned down the last table with a wave of his wand and turned off the lights with another flick. Glancing at his watch, he headed for the kitchen, which was completely dark except for some lit candles placed around the counters. Harry let his eyes adjust, then saw Draco sitting atop the middle table, along with the last piece of chocolate cake and two glasses of wine.

"I didn't know this place served food after 1 am," Harry commented.

Draco laughed softly. "I have special privileges."

"Yeah? Are you dating the owner?" Harry asked, picking up one of the glasses.

"Something like that," Draco replied, lightly tapping his wine glass against Harry's.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Harry."

"Happy Valentine's Day, co-owner."

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Draco blew out the last candle while Harry waited at the door, holding it open.

"Ready?" Harry asked, holding out his hand. "Let's go home."

Draco smiled and took it.

Home.

That sounded just about right to him.