Cho just grabbed her coffee mug in response, taking a sip before shrugging. “Beats me, he was a right twat in school. But the public sure loves favoring the redeemed don’t they?”

On cue, she pulled out a magazine from the file earlier. And there on the cover appeared Malfoy, in all his blonde posh glory, smirking at the camera (an expression Harry knew all too well) before the blonde sent the audience a seductive look. He turned slightly and tilted his head a little, slowly trailing a lazy arm down the side of his body, his tongue peaking out and swiping over his plush, pink lips. Harry flushed slightly as photo Malfoy looked him in the eyes and gave him a wink (if the real Malfoy knew, he’d probably start crying at the betrayal). 

Harry cleared his throat in an attempt to cover up what has become too long for just examining evidence. Cho gave him a teasing smile, but said nothing. Small mercies he supposed. 

“The boss knows all about your past history together. Despite everything, he still thinks you’ll be perfect for the case, and that’s saying something.” 

She had more to say, he knew she did. He waited for her to continue after she realized what he was anticipating.  

Just like he suspected, she bit her lip (one of her tells) before sighing. “He may have also already contacted Malfoy telling him you’ll be working for him.” 

“What? Cho!” She raised her hands in defense. 

“He needed a response from us within 24 hours! The boss couldn’t just leave him waiting,” she said it like Harry hasn’t made Malfoy work for anything before, “He knew you’re more than capable of handling this.” 

“If you’re implying that he gave this to me on a whim you’re clearly wrong,” Harry rolled his eyes, “Everyone knows he favors you and Lawrence most, and I just got back from that Morocco case. He wouldn’t have assigned this to me that fast. At least, not without interference.” 

‘Are you implying that I had something to do with this?” she gave him a seemingly innocent look. He knew better. They worked together for six years after all. 

He gave her a playful shove, “Don’t try pulling that act on me! Innocence doesn’t suit you, Cho. At least not with our job.”

“Touché.” She gathered the magazine back into the file before handing it back to Harry, a clear dismissal. 

“And Harry?” she called just before he left the office. “You’re not as good as hiding your magazine subscriptions as you think.” 

He flushed and hurriedly closed the door to her office, but not without hearing another comment, “Next time a witch needs to look through your desk files, might want to use a locking charm yeah?” 

He heard her cackling as he moved down the hallway, his coworkers shooting him weird looks as he went. 

***

Malfoy flooed at just past 1 am that same day. Harry has been anticipating the call of course, but it was rather late. If he wasn’t finishing up the last of his Morocco reports, he would’ve already gone to bed. 

“Malfoy,” Harry greeted. The prat looked the same, if not slightly amused. At what, Harry didn’t know. It has been ten years since their last interaction, just after the war. And although the newspaper and gossip rags reported on the two of them almost constantly, it wasn’t the same as meeting face to face. 

“Potter, surprised you took the job,” he teased, although Harry must’ve heard him wrong. Malfoy never teased him before, and the concept was a strange and foreign one. 

“Yeah, well,” he flushed, “If you must know, my boss actually accepted the case on my behalf before I even heard about it. Poor Cho had to break in the surprise for me.” 

Malfoy’s expression dimmed somewhat at that, and the small smirk from earlier faded a little, “I see.” Was Malfoy acting...disappointed? Harry dismissed those thoughts instantly. 

“Anyways,” he continued on, once the moment got a tad too awkward, “I’m surprised it took you so long to call. You know some people like having a sleep schedule right?” 

Malfoy waved his hand, “There was a shoot late at night, some sort of ad I was hired to model in. The setting they needed had perfect lighting and weather at ten this evening. But by the time we were done, it was well beyond the time frame they would’ve liked.” 

“And you didn’t think to call earlier?” 

Malfoy rolled his eyes, “Yes, we’re so eager to talk with one another, aren’t we? I’m sure if we wanted to keep in touch for all these years we would’ve done so by now. And it’s not like I don’t see you everyday! All the newspapers and magazines show your face everywhere. Do you have any idea what it’s like to have to be subjected to that so much?” 

Harry did know, actually, but he wasn’t going to admit that out loud. A resort was on the tip of his tongue, but he held it in. Now wasn’t the time to argue. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration instead. 

“Let’s just cut the small talk alright? Just tell me what I need to know. The basics are on your file but there was not much else.” 

Malfoy straightened, professional mask in place. “There’s this show in Milan held every year that features the most exclusive, upcoming designers and models. A friend called in a favor because recently many of the models in the show have been making mysterious disappearances. The aurors over there have been working on it, but they don’t have many leads, making the situation difficult and the participants weary. And normally with all the risks, I wouldn’t attend, but like I said, I was called in for a favor.”

“And you couldn’t just say no?” Harry couldn’t help but question. Malfoy surprised him by snorting.

“As if I would’ve said no to helping Pansy. Besides, as much as this situation could potentially affect me, this is the first year she’s been invited as an actual designer instead of some company intern or something. If this goes well, she has the potential to make it big.” Harry stared, processing Malfoy’s words.

“Pansy? As in Pansy Parkinson?” The name caught him off guard. Holy Merlin, he did not sign up for two Slytherins. One he could deal with, specifically if that happened to be Draco Malfoy. But another snake? Cho was going to seriously regret heading in for work tomorrow. 

“Yes, Potter. You’re not the only one willing to risk a limb, or in this case, a body to help out a friend,” he rolled his eyes, “Now is that all? Because I have to get up rather early for another event tomorrow. And as enlightening as this reunion has been, I don’t think I could put up with you for a second longer.”

Harry nodded in agreement. “The same could be said for you. You know standard procedures yes?” 

“Obviously, Potter. Company terms and all that. I’ll let you know more details tomorrow, say, around noon?” 

“Sounds good. Floo me if you need.” 

And with that the floo call ended. Harry sighed in relief.