Chapter Text
(Thursday 19th June, 1997 : Diagon Alley, Gringotts)
Head held high, Draco was walking with all the grace and decorum of a proper Malfoy towards Gringotts Bank. Diagon Alley was dark and empty, the usual hoards of excited witches and wizards home at this early hour of the morning. The gleaming white marble of the Bank, the biggest light source in range, glowing with an eerie sort of power that made him wonder just how much the Goblins were keeping from the wizards who so readily trusted them with their gold.
Draco walked up the glowing white steps towards the bank and through the first set of gleaming double doors. He looked up at the warning, posted for all those stupid enough to think they could steal from the Goblin race. He was so distracted by the foreboding words that, when he ran into the hard chest of another man, Draco stumbled back, tripping over his feet with no grace or dignity to be seen.
Two large, strong hands steadied him by his hips and Draco blushed, this was an entirely new situation he was facing. The stranger carefully pulled him back onto his feet and let out a rumbling chuckle that made Draco shiver. He looked up, only to see the most gorgeous man he’d ever seen.
The man was roughly 6”5’ with a broad chest that tapered down to slim hips. He was well muscled, but not overly so, a solid beater’s build that still allowed for high agility. High cheekbones and a defined jawline indicated the man was from pureblood lineage. His tan skin seemed to glow despite the lack of light. Raven black hair was tied into a messy bun on the top of his head, short strands escaped and fell to the greenest eyes Draco had ever seen. The man was strangely familiar looking, but Draco couldn't place where he'd seen him before. He was sure he would recognise those eyes anywhere.
The man wore fitted black slacks and a black, tucked in button down; sleeves rolled up. Draco found himself staring at the tight muscles of the man’s forearms before he realised the man’s hands were still on his hips. He cleared his throat awkwardly and muttered a ‘thank you’ before taking half a step back to extract himself from this man’s grasp and let himself breathe.
“I - wow - ahh, who are you?” Draco stuttered out and amusement shone in those emerald green eyes. “I mean I’m Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. A pleasure to meet you.” He said, extending his hand for a shake.
The dark man’s eyes took a slow trip up Draco’s body as he bowed slightly and took his hand, dropping a chaste kiss onto Draco’s knuckles. Draco’s knees went weak and he thought this man might actually be the death of him. If he ever saw this man again, there was no way someone this extraordinary would leave Draco in one piece.
“The pleasure is all mine Draco Malfoy. I’m Hadrian Peverell,” the man said in a voice Draco could listen to all day and never tire of deep baritone rumbling.
A smirk crossed the man’s lips, as if he knew exactly how Draco was reacting to him and with a nod of farewell, Hadrian Peverell turned and walked through the double doors and down the steps to Diagon Alley. Draco stared unashamedly at his broad, muscled back and the way his slacks hugged the shapely curve of his ass.
Draco had only just met the man but he knew he was in very big trouble. Draco had never seen anyone as stunning as Hadrian Peverell and he knew, without a doubt that he probably never would.