A Business Affair

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Chapter Twenty: The Mind of a Mastermind


Draco and Michael appeared in Draco's large bedroom. In the corner was a grand four-poster bed draped in a rich green silk. The walls were painted a light sage green color, complimenting the bed nicely. Two windows on either side of the bed let in the white afternoon sunlight reflecting off the grey clouds.

Draco dislodged himself from Michael as they arrived and moved around the bed to look out one of the windows. Michael came up behind him and slipped an arm around his waist, rubbing his flat stomach soothingly. He leaned in and kissed his neck softly.

Draco sighed and looked downward. He reached up and removed Michael's hand, turning around as he did so.

"What?" Michael asked as Draco moved out from by the window and back toward the center of the room. Draco didn't respond to the question.

Michael followed him from the bedroom, down the hall and stairs, and into the living room. Draco sat down casually on the couch and gestured for Michael to join him. Michael sat down beside him, scooting closer.

Draco moved around on the couch so that he was straddling Michael. He looked down at him and grinned an evil grin. He leaned down and kissed Michael slowly.

Michael moaned softly as Draco nibbled on his lower lip. He ran his tongue around Michael's lips, asking for entrance. Michael obediently opened his mouth for Draco's hot tongue.

Michael groaned as Draco settled himself further between his legs, feeling his growing erection pressing into his own. Michael's hands came up and stripped off Draco's shirt easily as though he'd had years of practice.

The shirt was thrown to the side and Michael's hands caressed Draco's pale skin. Draco moaned softly as Michael's hands ran up and down his body. He moved from the dark-haired man's mouth to suck on his tanned neck.

Michael moaned and the sound vibrated through Draco's body. He threw his head back as Draco licked and sucked at the exposed flesh.

"Fuck, Draco!" he gasped when his hands traveled further down his body, coming to the waistline of his jeans. Draco pulled back to smirk at him before giving him another quick kiss and moving down his body.

Michael's breathing was heavy as Draco moved farther south. Draco's eyes gleamed as he pulled down Michael's zipper.

"Wait," Michael panted, looking down at him and Draco paused. "What about Harry?"

Draco looked up sharply, taken aback. He quickly got off Michael, staring at him in shock. "What about Potter?" he asked.

Michael pushed himself up on the couch and gave Draco a look that plainly told him he knew exactly what. "Come on, Draco. I saw you two the other day, in the rain," he said, as though it was obvious.

Draco scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Fine, but it's not a big deal. He means nothing to me.”

"You are still as manipulative as I remember," Michael said, grinning.

"How do you know I'm manipulating him?" Draco asked slyly and Michael gave him a withering look.

"I know you better than you think, Draco. Besides, it is Harry. You've been obsessed with him in some form or other forever."

Draco scoffed and ignored the remark. He sat back down beside Michael and reached over for his shirt. He slipped it back over his head and said nothing.

"So if you're manipulating him, what are you using me for?" Michael asked.

Draco gave him an obvious look. "What do you think?" he drawled.

"Draco," Michael said, smirking softly. "Do you really want to be this deceptive?"

"If I wasn't then what would I be?" Draco asked facetiously, smirking.

Michael smirked and looked at Draco slyly. "What do you want me to do?" he asked suddenly.

Draco raised an interested eyebrow and his smirk widened. "I knew I could count on you.”

***

Harry watched as Draco and Michael disappeared from the Pitch. He stared in shock at the spot from which they had gone.

What the hell was that?! he thought. What are they doing together?

He stood up slowly from where he had been crouched down pretending to do up his shoelaces. He walked as though in a trance back to the locker rooms.

He stared hard at the ground as he walked back. He didn't understand this feeling that was welling up inside him. He was supposed to be using Draco. He wasn't allowed to be having another affair on the side!

He almost felt as if Draco was cheating on him.

No, that's crazy, he told himself. He's not cheating. What we're doing can't be considered anything that can be cheated on.

He reached the door to the changing rooms and went inside. Everyone else had already left by that time. He took his time stripping off his clothes and stepping under the warm water from the shower.

As the water ran over his body, Harry thought to himself.

I don't understand what Malfoy is doing. Well, I mean, I know what he's doing with Michael, but isn't he supposed to be with me? I mean, not with me, but I'm using him. Michael shouldn't be in the picture! Why is it that as soon as Michael shows up he doesn't even think twice about shagging him?! That's not how this is supposed to work. He's only supposed to be with me!

Harry barely noticed the irrationality of these thoughts as they ran through his head. He scowled at the thought of Draco and Michael together.

He turned off the water quickly and stepped out of the shower, shivering slightly in the cold that filled the room. The cold wind blew through the cracks in the building and whipped around the room.

He dressed quickly and left the room. He pulled his coat tighter around himself as he walked down the path from the stadium. The sky was covered in a light grey cloud cover in the early afternoon. Harry shivered as the wind speed increased.

What am I going to do about Malfoy? he thought to himself. I don't like him going off with Michael, it's not good. What should I do?

Harry shook his head as he reached the end of the path. He didn't know why this bothered him so much, but the thought of them together made his blood boil.

Harry looked around quickly to make sure no one was around and Apparated away. He appeared in an alleyway near the foot of his apartment building. He walked out to look up at his building.

He grimaced at the thought of having to go in and see Ginny again. She was still acting as though nothing had ever happened, as if everything was just perfect. Harry knew it wasn't though.

Just the thought of her consciously lying to him made him feel sick. And now Draco was off having some tryst with Michael! Harry felt anger building up inside him at the two thoughts combined. He wasn't sure why the latter made him feel that way, but he couldn't suppress the feeling.

He was about to enter into the building when a faint voice sounded in the back of his mind.

"If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask me."

He stopped with his hand on the door. He backed away slowly from it, thinking hard.

Seamus' voice became stronger and louder the more Harry thought. Seamus was gay. He didn't seem to mind about what Harry was doing. He was available. He could keep a secret...

Harry turned abruptly from the front door and walked in the opposite direction down the street. He kicked a pebble along as he went, still considering the words and his own thoughts. He looked up at the small grocery store as he passed, remembering that fateful day just two months ago when Draco had come into his life once more, for better or worse.

Harry sighed and kept walking. None of his thoughts had been rational as of late. This new batch was just as crazy as the last, and yet they somehow made perfect sense.

As Harry stopped and looked in the window of a small jewelry shop at the gold wedding bands displayed there on a burgundy pillow, he looked down at his own band. He played with it, biting his lip as he thought.

He felt a sudden surge of anger at the band sitting there so idly on his finger. He wanted to take it off and fling it in the gutter. He resisted the urge though and took a deep calming breath. He looked back up and saw his reflection in the dark glass. He looked perfectly calm on the outside, but inside he was having a mental battle.

He knew he had to do something about all of this, Ginny, Malfoy, himself. He just knew. He turned suddenly from the window and walked hastily into an alleyway close by. He looked around surreptitiously before Apparating out of sight.

He appeared outside a small town at the foot of a snow covered mountain. He walked into town and past a small fountain in the center that was already frozen over from the cold air. He walked past many small cottage-like houses until he got a ways out of town. There under the mountain stood a house very unlike the others.

It was built in a much more modern style than the others, very square and white. Harry walked up to the front door and knocked, his heart beating rapidly. He heard some scuffling around inside before the door was opened.

Seamus stood there in a pair of boxers and no shirt. He opened the door wider and smiled when he saw that it was Harry. He stepped aside for Harry to enter.

"Did I interrupt something?" Harry asked as he slid past him. Seamus grinned mischievously and shut the door behind him, following him into the living room.

The room was decorated in a very modern fashion. The couch was a bright red and very square looking. On the walls were paintings of shapes using bright blues and greens. A fire was roaring in the stainless steel fireplace.

Harry sat down on the couch and was surprised to find that it was fairly comfortable. Seamus moved around behind him, pulling open some of the curtains that had been closed. He also bent down and scooped up his pants that were lying in a pile on the floor.

He grinned devilishly at Harry as he slipped them on. Harry just laughed and waited for him to finish.

"It's okay," Seamus called. A door creaked open and a man with brown hair and blue eyes came out. He smiled shyly at Harry before walking over to Seamus. He whispered something in Seamus' ear. Seamus nodded and the man turned to leave. He smiled awkwardly at Harry as he went out the door.

"Sorry," Seamus apologized. "Shawn was supposed to leave an hour ago. I guess we lost track of time."

Seamus raised a suggestive eyebrow and Harry laughed. Seamus sat down on the couch beside Harry, curling his legs underneath him. "So, why the unexpected visit, Harry?" he asked.

Harry hesitated, unsure of how to say what he meant. "Well, you remember when you said if I needed something, I could ask you?" he asked carefully.

"Yeah," Seamus said easily, wondering what this was all about.

"Well, I think there's something I need," Harry said slowly.

"Really? And what would that be?"

"I need you to help me make Malfoy jealous."

Seamus' eyebrows rose significantly at these words. Harry looked completely serious as he waited for his response.

"What?" Seamus asked, unsure if he had heard correctly.

"I need your help," Harry repeated.

"To make Malfoy jealous," Seamus finished the sentence slowly. "But why?"

"Because he's going off with Michael!" Harry exclaimed.

Seamus looked confused. "I thought this was to get back at Ginny.”

"It is," Harry said.

"Well then why--ohhh," he said as another thought entered his mind.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Oh, nothing," Seamus said dismissively.

Harry looked at him suspiciously. "No no, you said 'ohhh' in that tone. What did you mean?"

"Nothing, Harry, nothing," Seamus said, waving away the question.

Harry shook his head. He was too tired to think clearly at the moment. "Well, will you help me?" he asked, going back to his original quandary.

Seamus paused, clearly thinking over the proposition. "What exactly do you want from me?"

Harry opened his mouth to speak then stopped. He hadn't really thought about it that much to tell the truth. "I don’t know... I thought you might have some ideas," he said, looking at him hopefully.

Seamus chuckled at his suggestion. "And why would you think that I would have suggestions?"

Harry looked around pointedly at the articles of clothing strewn around the room. "No reason, you just seem to have a bit more experience in that department," he said, giving him a look that said it was obvious.

Seamus grinned at Harry and couldn't help but laugh. "You may be right, but I've never exactly been the 'mistress' if you could call it that.”

"But you do know the basics, right?" Harry asked.

"Well, yeah. But how far exactly do you want to go with this, Harry?"

"Umm..." Harry bit his lip as he thought it over. "Not too far. I mean, I don't want to sleep with you or anything."

"Aww," Seamus said, pouting. "You don't want me?"

"That's not what I meant," Harry said and Seamus grinned.

"Okay, Harry, I think I can help you out. But are you absolutely sure you want to do this?"

"Yes," Harry said immediately. Seamus looked at him closely then as if measuring him. Harry eyes him curiously, wondering what he was doing. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing," Seamus said. "Okay, Harry, you've got yourself a deal."

"Great," Harry said, smiling. "How do you want to start this?"

"Where do you see Malfoy most often?" Seamus asked.

"Quidditch," Harry replied at once.

"Hmm... Do you have any games coming up?"

"Actually, our last game of the season, since we didn't make it into the finals, is next Saturday," Harry said.

"Well then, Harry," Seamus said with a wink. "Save me a seat."

Harry grinned at him and got up off the couch. Seamus followed him to the door and opened it for him. Harry stepped out onto the porch where a light mist was falling.

"See you Saturday," Seamus said with an evil grin. Harry smiled too as the door swung shut behind him. He took a deep satisfied breath and Apparated away


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A/N: Well, Happy New Year! I hope you're all happy and not too hungover ;) Then again, drunken reviews are pretty funny ;) So please leave a review! :D