Living in Sin

A/N: Review Response. I see people reply to reviewers all the time this way so I am going to try it until they make a reply section. I will try not to make my responses too long :)

Teh Kita : Can I just say that I absolutely love you! Your reviews mean more to me than you could ever realize, on this story and the last! It means so much to me that I am one of your fav authors on here! I am trying not to doubt myself but I am still new to the writing side of fan fiction so bear with me if I still need a little validation :). Thank you soo much for sticking with me!

paigeey07: Yay!! I’m glad. I hope you still do after reading this chappie :)

Jilliane : Sigh. You called me out lol! I’ll admit it was something I thought about, but not much, so let’s just all pretend that Harry’s magic is too weak for him to properly heat and light his flat. In the future I will reveal why and hope this will satisfy your question. Thanks so much for reading and for the review!

tiggator : Ooh! I hope you find those things in this story, and I must say I love your stories about writing fan fiction. I can very much relate now that I am writing and not just reading. Thanks for reading!

badkittyuno : Thanks! And also thanks for reviewing my last story :)

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The gaudy brown door slammed in Draco's face.

"No way in hell Malfoy!" Draco heard Potter shout on the other side of the door.

"Open up Potter, on the flier you said you would be interviewing all potential roommates," Draco continued to knock.

It wasn't like this was his favorite idea in the world, but Lucius was not giving him a lot to live on. His daddy hardly gave him anything actually; he was so convinced that Draco would turn around and spend every last dime on illegal potions, powders, and other mind altering substances.

Draco had secured a job as a bartender at Orchid Lounge in the heart of London’s Wizarding World gay community. He managed to earn the position, despite the fact that he had no skills as a bartender. Every night that week, different men offered to buy the pretty blond drinks. He'd earned more tips in one night than most of the guys had earned all week, much to the resentment of his coworkers.

Still it wasn't enough. Draco had a problem. If he wasn't high all the time it started to hurt. Sometimes it hurt so bad Draco would lock himself in the bathroom and grip at his chest attempting to breathe...

Draco had stopped by Lounge that day to pick up his paycheck, when he saw a flier posted on the back wall. He saw the muggle flat advertised in the moving picture.

The photograph inched through the small space revealing a nearly empty living room with grass green carpet, and a hideous tattered maroon couch. The picture moved to show a cramped kitchen, a narrow bathroom, and up three steps on a raised platform was a bedroom. Not that there was an actual bed in this room.

The only door in the whole place, Draco noticed, was to the bathroom. It was a studio apartment and he found it odd that the renter was requesting a roommate. What truly caught his eye was the location of the flat nearby his new job. He didn’t realize the roommate would be Potter until his famous classmate pulled open the front door.

Now he stood in the narrow hallway of the seedy apartment building, gripping the handle of that gaudy brown door.

It was pushed open, at that moment to reveal another one of his famed classmates, Ronald Weasley. Of course wherever Potter was Weasley and Granger followed.

"I’ll stop by more often now that I know where you live," Weasley was saying, "But I don't want to keep Hermione waiting. I’ll tell her you’ll be joining us next time."

"Okay," Draco heard Potter’s soft response.

The redhead sidestepped Draco, and moved down the hallway without a word or a glance in the blond’s direction. The door remained ajar and Draco decidedly eased his way inside. He carried everything he needed in his old Hogwart’s book bag.

Potter stood in front of the fireplace wearing an unreadable expression. He appeared gaunt, thinner than when Draco had last seen him. The man had testified at the trial on behalf of him and his family. He had also said kind things about Professor Snape. It was because of Potter that he was cleared of all wrong doing and free to live as he pleased.

"Okay Malfoy, you're right everyone gets an interview. So please, tell me what you're looking for in a roommate," Potter said dryly.

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Harry watched Malfoy set his bag down and stroll throughout the small space. The Slytherin looked the same.

He was still beautiful, the thought crept into Harry’s head before he could stop it, but he banished it immediately. He was becoming quite good at suppressing unwanted thoughts.

"All I need is a place to sleep. I work at night," Malfoy said, no hint of snark in his tone.

"Okay," Harry said simply.

Several questions about the blond raced into his mind the most pressing one was why had he chosen this flat of all places? Surely he could afford much more with his inheritance.

Instead of posing this question however, Harry came to the conclusion that he didn't care what it was that bought Malfoy to him. Whatever the reason was, it was irrelevant. Malfoy money was as good as any money. Some would say it was better.

"I take long showers," Malfoy said, looking disdainfully at the bathroom.

"In the morning, or at night?" Harry inquired, dully.

"I take a lot of showers," the blond responded, not answering Harry's question at all.

"Whatever," Harry snapped, suddenly annoyed, "look you can stay here as long as you can pay."

"You're offering it to me?" the familiar smirk spread across his pale pink lips.

"That's what I said, Malfoy," Harry said impatiently.

"Alright," Malfoy began to move like he owned the place already.

"Rent is due the first of every month. No later. And you'll need to convert your money to muggle money," Harry said coolly.

Malfoy scrunched up his nose as if he was ready to say something but he settled for a tense nod instead.

"It's a muggle flat so electricity and airwaves from phones, radios, and televisions may interfere with your magic," Harry cautioned. He decided it was only fair to warn potential magical tenants because his own spells were not as capable as they had been in the past.

But of course technology wasn't the only reason behind that...

"I’m sorry Potter but were you speaking English just a moment ago. I could’ve sworn you just made up several words..." Malfoy sounded confused and Harry could see the frustration on his face.

Harry sighed not too anxious to repeat himself, "Just know your magic won't be as strong within the building," he grumbled.

Malfoy appeared wary, but he nodded again.

"The first is next Wednesday, right?" Malfoy asked bending down to access his book bag. Harry couldn't help but to admire the blond's elegant body in this position. It was only when Malfoy looked up that Harry realized he had yet to respond.

"Did you say something?" he asked dimly. Malfoy smirked; his face revealed that he was well aware of what Harry had been looking at. Harry cursed inwardly as blush crept across his cheeks. He looked down.

"Potter, you don't mind if I buy a bed, do you?" Malfoy continued firing these absurd questions.

"No Malfoy, of course I don't mind, I sleep on the couch..." Harry said and he walked into the kitchen to grab the roommate agreements. He had two. One was legally binding in the muggle world in the off chance that he'd gotten a non-magic roommate. The other was magically binding. He would have Malfoy sign both.

"I’ll convert my money at Gringotts tomorrow," Malfoy said, he approached Harry at the kitchen table.

"Alright then sign here," he handed the blond a muggle pen.

Malfoy didn’t bother to read through either contract. He grabbed the pen from Harry's hand and eyed the instrument, confused. Nonetheless, he dipped it in the inkpot and marked the paper, resulting in a very inky sloppy signature. Harry found himself unable to hold in a chuckle.

Malfoy glared at him, "What’s so funny Potter?"

Harry shook his head and placed the other contract in front of the blond, this time replacing the pen with a quill.

"Strange that the famous Harry Potter can't afford a one bedroom muggle flat without the help of a roommate," Malfoy said in a mock thoughtful tone, as he signed the second contract.

Each word seemed to jar at Harry’s nerves.

"Strange that you'd room with your old Hogwarts rival in a one bedroom muggle flat," Harry didn't miss a beat and responded just as bitingly. His statement closed all further inquiries on the topic of money for now at least, and for that Harry was grateful.

He couldn't bring himself to explain to anybody, least of all Draco Malfoy, where all of his money had gone.


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A/N: Still interested? Lemme know…
Thanks!