Okay, so before you even read this, I would like to clairify one thing.
The 'valet' I'm referring to is NOT the guy who parks your car. I'm referring to the valet that helped wealthy men get along (the female version is a handmaid) back in the time of fancy petticoats and poofy skirts. You know, helped them dress, kept track of most of their schedule, and generally helped them out. They got room and board in exchange, and a small pay.
So, now that I know for sure that you aren't hopelessly confused, you may read on. :D
The Prince and the Pauper
Chapter One
Need a Job?
Draco was dreading the engagement.
Yeah, Jenny was a nice girl. Sure, she was generally good looking. And yes, she did have enough money to be worthy of being married into the Malfoy family.
But Draco had three good reasons to not marry her.
One, he didn't love her. Or even really like her. In fact, if it weren't for her generally cheerful disposition, he'd probably loathe her just on principle.
Two, she was in love with his best mate, Gregory. You could just tell by the way that she fawned all over him every time he came near her. Not that he was jealous or anything—Greg could have the girl. He liked her enough to allow it. It's just that she tended to be a little too…obvious about it.
And three, Draco was gay. Not bi, gay. As in likes guys and not girls. As in oh-my-god-that-guy's-ass-is-so-hot-and-that-girl-needs-to-wear-a-different-sweater gay.
So there you go, three good—no, great—reasons for Jenny McGarland to NOT become Jenny Malfoy.
Too bad those reasons wouldn't give him any ground at all with his family.
Which brings us back to Draco dreading the engagement.
He was dreading it in a small café just a few blocks away from his manor. Unlike Malfoy Manor, his home was just a manor—newly built; nothing historical about it at all. He had just wanted to get his own place when he turned eighteen, so he took all the money he had saved up (and all the money he was allowed access to in the family vault) and built his own home. It had turned out to be perfect; it was everything he had wanted. He wouldn't have settled for anything less.
But he had thought that living in his own place would give him the ability to escape his family's agenda.
Apparently not. In retrospect, it really had been wishful thinking.
Draco gloomily sipped his tea and contemplated his problem. His thoughts were interrupted, however, when the door to the back room burst open and the owner of the establishment hurried around the counter. He was a portly man with thin gray hair and a plain face, and he seemed to bristle with irritation as another figure flashed after him.
"Please, sir, I really need some sort of job!" Draco glanced up at the owner of the voice and nearly choked on his tea.
The man looked just a few inches shorter than Draco, with a strong yet slender build and jet-black hair that looked like it had never been combed trailing to his shoulders. His skin was darker than Draco's (which isn't saying much) but not tan, and his clothes looked as though they had seen better days. His lips were full and pink, his nose straight, and his hair fell over eyes of the most captivating color of green he had ever seen. Oh, what he wouldn't do to have that eye candy working for him…but there's no way the owner is going to not hire him after he begged like that, right?
"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, but I just can't hire you with this kind of record." The boss was telling him no?
"But sir, no one else will hire me either!" How could he say no to that irresistible voice?
"Well, you should have thought of that before!" Before what?
"But--!" The man sounded so desperate, it was breaking Draco's heart just to hear it. Some Malfoy he made.
"The answer is no. Now, if you'll excuse me…" The owner bustled out the door to his café and down the street.
The beautiful man hung his head in despair. Draco cleared his throat lightly. The man's eyes shot over to him.
"I couldn't help overhearing that…" Malfoy paused, wondering how he would react. Green eyes only narrowed, staring into his silver ones suspiciously. "…and, well, if you want a job, I have one for you."
"What kind of job?" The man's voice was just as full of suspicion as his eyes were, and Draco couldn't help but chuckle lightly.
"I'm not going to whore you off on the streets or anything, if that's what you're worried about." Draco smirked lightly as he saw the beautiful man visibly relax at his words. He held out a hand for the man to shake. "Draco Malfoy."
The man took it. "Harry Potter."
Harry, hmm? I like it.
"Well then—may I call you Harry?" Harry nodded ever so slightly and Draco smiled down at his hand, which was still being held by Harry's. Harry's hand was callused, but warm and still somewhat soft and Draco was almost disappointed when Harry followed his eyes and quickly dropped his hand. "Well, Harry, you see I live in a manor—one that requires servants, and its far too new to have a house elf. So, I have made do with a house maid and cook, but they both happen to be females and…well…lets just say that to my family, it looks a bit…improper. And I honestly don't need any extra problems with my family right now." Since I'm still trying to come up with a good way to defy them.
"So you want to hire me to save face with your family?" Harry sounded amused at Draco's situation.
"Yes. How about as a valet?" He didn't need a butler; Sally always answered the door.
"A valet? I didn't know that people still had those." Was it just Draco, or did it look like Harry was slightly…blushing?
"Well, not to help them dress, no…" Harry looked slightly relieved. "…but to help them with things like remembering appointments, waking up on time, finding my damn wand that likes to disappear every few hours or so…" Harry laughed and Draco raised an eyebrow at him.
"That sounds good so far. What's the catch?" Harry smiled slightly.
Draco thought a moment, and Harry began to look worried. He had been joking; he hadn't thought there was a catch. "You have to sign a contract, and you can't leave until the contract is finished. But in the meantime, you get to stay at the manor. So, do you want the job?"
Harry thought a moment, biting his thumb lightly. "How long's the contract?"
"Just a year." Merlin, the man was adorable with that thoughtful look on his face…
"A year of free living?!" Draco's hands tightened into fists as Harry's face lit up. The surprised and delighted look completely trounced the biting-thumb-in-thought look!
"Plus your pay, of course." Draco's voice was as smooth and calm as his face. Malfoys did not blush, no matter how beautiful Harry looked when he smiled like that…
"Congratulations, Mr. Malfoy, you've got yourself a new valet!"
Draco cringed. "Great, but call me Draco, please. Mr. Malfoy is my father." Was it impossible for him to keep his father off his mind for more than two minutes?!
Harry just smiled at him, and Draco pushed down the annoying butterflies dancing in his stomach.
-----
After Harry fetched his briefcase, Draco led him out the front door and all the way to his home. The whole way, he talked Harry's ears off, going over house rules, things Harry may be required to do, and his daily schedule, which would directly affect Harry.
Bored out of his mind and afraid he would forget all this new information, Harry conjured up a notebook and a muggle pen to jot everything down while Draco spoke.
Harry's Guidelines
Rules
1. It is Sally's job to answer the door and speak to guests. I am never, under any circumstance, to answer the door. (Heaven forbid someone have a man meet them at the door)
2. I will come when called and do as I am asked. (To an extent)
3. I will not leave the manor without consent and notice, for I may be needed. (However did you live without me?)
4. I will have proper hygienic habits, which includes bathing regularly, brushing my teeth, and changing clothes. (Because he assumes I didn't ALREADY do that)
Draco's Schedule
1. Wake up at 8am
"Every day you'll make sure I'm up at 8, and then you'll need to run the day's schedule by me. Whenever I make an engagement, I'm going to tell you, and you are to note it."
Harry rolled his eyes. This seemed a bit silly to him, but who was he to judge some rich snob? Oops; did it again. (RESIST. THINKING. OF. THAT. SONG!! DX)
2. Schedule run-through
3. Bath (What does that have to do with me?)
4. Breakfast at 8:30 am
5. Meetings/Engagements
6. Lunch at noon
7. Paperwork (Haha, bills)
8. Leisure
"And after I do the paperwork, I will (hopefully) have nothing else. You should then notify me of any problems that have occurred within the house, which Sally and Cook will notify you of while I work on the papers. After that, I may or may not allow you to retire, depending on whether or not I want company."
"That's an awful lot to do every day." Harry seemed unsure now and Draco rushed to reassure him.
"Is it worth free housing, food, and 200 galleons a week?"
Harry's eyes widened. "You're an angel, aren't you? You're not a rich snob at all, you're an angel with the power of god that has decided to save me for some unknown reason."
Draco snorted. "Sure, lets go with that."
They had reached Draco's manor, and Harry's eyes widened even more into the most adorable picture of astonishment at the sight of it.
Draco looked up at the home he had designed himself and appreciated it anew as he saw it through Harry's eyes.
It was a magnificent example of gothic architecture, with high arches and spikes, and beautiful stained glass windows depicting characters from legends, and the entire manor was made of white marble with silver veins. The whole place had the feel of a castle.
"Wow." Draco glanced sideways at Harry, smirking at how breathless he sounded.
"You ready to see the inside?"
"Is it as amazing as the outside?" Harry was still staring in awe at the home, and Draco couldn't help but smile slightly at his expression.
"In my opinion," Draco said slowly, schooling his expression, "it's even better on the inside."