Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Hello Everyone! I just wanted to let everyone know that No I am not dead. Now in regards to this story this is actually chapter no. 2, but because of rating issues chapter one cannot be posted here. This actually doesn't spoil anything just hints at things to come. If you want to read the MA chapter head over to hpfandom or ao3 and look for my screen name MageKalize. Some notes on this story:
1. I don't have a timeline for this story because it was meant to be a one shot fest piece so it may be days/weeks/months/years before an update occurs again.
2. I'm sorry in advance for the wait.
3. Again, my muse just wanted to play around in this story.
4. OH! No beta so all mistakes are mine.
~~~Previously~~~
I made to get up but two things stopped me- One, the ache on and most importantly in my backside and two, Teppy my personal house elf. She popped in as soon as my feet touched the black carpet and handed me a note. This was bad. Usually written notes between my father and I only happened when he was extremely upset with me.
I looked at the scrawled 'Harry' on the front of the note one last time before opening it and reading with trepidation.
Harry,
I hope you are feeling well. I know I might have gone overboard in the playroom, but it was warranted and you know it. There are healing potions by your bed if you need them and Teppy has been charged with your care if you still do not feel up to par. Now, please excuse my cowardice in using a letter to say what I feel must be said.
Last night was exactly what I said, a punishment. I gratified you by way of my toys and my hand for my own personal pleasure, but you shall no longer receive release by my body. I know you were expecting me to take you, but I meant it when I told you that our liaisons had come to an end when I spoke to you at the beginning of the school year. Last night was a farewell to said liaisons.
With that said, any more 'acting up' will be dealt with by an indefinite magic block and house elf duties. Do not disappoint me again.
Yours,
Father
I crumpled the note in my hand and threw it across the room towards the fireplace, but it fell a few feet short. He was really putting an end to this, to us. I could not-would not let it happen. I made to get up again, but the pain held me to the bed.
"Damn it!" I punched the pillow. Teppy popped in once again.
"Is Master Harry needing anything?" I was going to tell her to scram, but then I asked her to return the note I had tossed across the room. She brought it to me and left at my wave. 'Please excuse my cowardice' now I wonder why he was too cowardly to sit down and tell me this face to face. After all admitting to cowardice and being a Gryffindor was simply just not done.
Maybe I can change his mind. Maybe I just need to try a bit harder. I downed the healing and pain potions on my bedside table and waited for them to kick in, a plan forming already.
Stubbornness, after all, runs in the family. Maybe I can be my father's son.
~~~JP/HP~~~
James paced the length of the drawing room and back. He was running of adrenaline from the day before and had barely slept. Between lasvascious dreams of making Harry his and nightmares where Harry laughs and derides James for his disgusting fantasies, his night had been less than pleasant. Upon waking for the third time in as many hours, he decided to get up for the day and take a flight around the manor grounds. Ten minutes in, he grew frustrated and decided 8am was late enough to bother his pretentious friend and let off some tension.
The aristocratic arse didn't even have the decency to look bothered when he walked into the drawing room to see James Potter making a hole in his rug. He simply poured a glass of brandy for himself and at James' demand a firewisky that he then ignored in favor of pacing.
Before either wizard could say a word, Teppy popped in to report that Harry had awoken and had read the missive. Teppy gave a brief summary of Harry's response since he had been shoo'ed away. Harry's reaction had not been encouraging. James knew his son well and if Harry had raged or even if he had sulked or Merlin forbid it cried James would have somewhere to begin his defense. As it stood now as a quiet and introspective wizard, his son was not a known quantity.
"Are you quite finished ruining the rug?" The aristocratic drawl made James snap out of his thoughts and pause in his step. He sat down as calm as possible on an overly ornate chair and deflated.
"James were you really expecting a normal reaction or worse yet a Gryffindor one out of Harry?" The humor underlaying the question made James scowl and direct a glare at his amused companion.
"I know what I hoped would be his reaction" he snapped. A deprecating laugh from across the room answered his words.
"Just who do you think you are fooling? You yourself don't know what reaction you were hoping for!" A set of calculating eyes studied James' despondent form across from him.
"Better yet," murmured the silky voice "you know exactly what reaction you wanted and now that you have gotten it are too frightened to accept it." The silence that followed was answer enough.
"Tell me James why do you fight tradition? Is there some inherent Gryffindor trait that forces you to do the exact opposite of what is expected? Does it thrill you to constantly go against the tide? What exactly do you get out of it? What have you gotten out of it so far? You as an only child, a deceased wife, a ratty trio of hang-abouts that are not fit as footmen much less polite company!"
"Here now! -"
"Oh don't start this "friend" business. If that were true they would be here advising you as I do or better yet you would have gone to them for theiradvise and not here for mine!" An air of satisfaction punctuated his remark. There, it said, my point has been made!
"You're right" James murmured gaze lost.
"Excuse me! Would you care to repeat that?" The incredulous voice was high in his surprise.
"You have perfect hearing! Now that I am listening to you do me the courtesy of listening to me." James huffed but had the decency to look chagrinned at his request.
"But that is all I have been doing. By Merlin has the sound finally penetrated that thick skull?" His voice had risen for a moment but calmed with James' admission.
"Fine then tell me what should I do? You in your infinite wisdom must have some cunning plan for me!" James tried to temper his sarcastic tone, but he was beyond caring now that his fatigue began to catch up with him.
"No." What?! James thought.
"What?!" This time James said it out loud. "What do you mean 'no'? You are always giving me advice, unwarranted might I add, and now when it is warranted you say 'no'!" James was up and pacing once more, but at the sight of his hosts' disapproving scowl sat back down.
"I say 'no' because I've already given all the advise I could possibly give. However, since it is obvious that you did not pay one whit of attention I will repeat it for you. Now are you listening?" He taunted.
"Yes, get on with it!"
"Obviously Harry didn't believe a word you wrote." When James made to interrupt a hand went up to forestall his exclamation.
"James, Harry is a Slytherin NOT a Gryffindor. He obviously noticed a weakness, which is probably why he asked Teppy for the missive back. He is planning something. Most likely he is trying to find his way back to your bed despite your warning." Letting out a deep sigh the wizard continued.
"In this instance your being a - Gryffindor is a help and not a hindrance." He grimaced when he realized he attributed the word help with Gryffindor.
"You can simply or elaborately which knowing you it will be the later, explain your views on the matter, why you set out the way you did and why you are now rescinding your last order." He waved his hand flippantly as he took a drink from his forgotten brandy.
"Had you been a Slytherin much more intricate maneuvering would have been necessary."
"You realize that once Harry and I go through this the pool of mate prospects will have shrunk to minuscule proportions which is the main reason I decided to forgo the tradition in the first place."
"Your prudishness and sense of morality more like and the shame of wanting your own flesh are reason number one. No, the prospects as you so eloquently put it will be exactly the right size." This part he had been trying to get James to understand for years! Since now James was receptive to his words he spoke them again and with as much conviction as he could.
"Think James! If Harry wants to do this then don't you think that any likely match would also have to have the same proclivities? If they did not then I'll bet the manor that Harry wouldn't even glance at them." His satisfaction was dripping from every pore, James noticed. He sat and let the information sink in for a moment.
Inhaling a fortifying breath of air, James roused himself from the chair, drank the glass of firewisky he had requested when he had stormed into the drawing room and nodded in acquiescence.
"You are correct Lucius. As always thank you for your hospitality. I'll be on my way." The air of amusement was back and Lucius simply inclined his head in acknowledgement. When James was out the door, the blonde's chuckle followed him out.
"My pleasure indeed."
Once again I will probably update again because my muse is liking this world, but it may not be here because of the rating issue. See top note for location of full story.