Chapter 3

Draco woke up the next morning not really paying attention to his surroundings; he was too deep in thought of what had happened and what he had learned yesterday, for one he needed to speak to pansy. Speak of the devil…

"Hey pans I want to ask you something…"

"Sure honey what's up?"

"Well yesterday I accepted the job, it turns out Harriett Potter was the one who recommended me for the job and also works at the school" Draco noticed straight away that Pansy tensed and gripped her cutlery in anger at the mention of Harri's name.

"Oh does she now, the fame whore can never just stay out of the lime light can she" Pansy sneered, which made her face look unattractive.

"She mentioned about my father's funeral, and who planned it"

"What are you accusing me of Draco?" she demanded

"Harri said that she conducted the plans and had my mother finalise her ideas, if this is true then why did you say you helped my mother?"

"She's lying of course! What would the filthy mudblood know about your family to be able to organise a day like that!"

Meanwhile in the sitting room Narcissa was sitting listening to the two arguing with a gleeful expression on her face, soon she would have her son with the Lady he truly deserved, not the vile girl sitting in her kitchen. 'Thinking of Harri I must organise tea with her…'

Draco set off for Hogwarts that day in a foul mood, thinking of how he hated that damn marriage contract now. He was thinking of just putting up with the scandal that the newspapers would print and ending it. He walked through the castles corridors completely oblivious of who was around, he wanted to just lock himself in his office and prepare to become a professor, in his oblivious state he missed the sight of Harri rolling her eyes with a soft smile on her face at his mood.

An hour later a knock at the door brought Draco out of his lesson plans. "Yes?" he barked.

Harri opened the door looking up at him through her lashes, "I'm here for my detention professor" she said coyly. Draco could not help but let his eyes roam her body, she had purposefully worse a short skirt, tight shirt and a Gryffindor tie, she noticed how Draco had gripped the desk harshly as he eyed her hungrily, she could not hold it in anymore and started laughing.

"Honestly Dray you would think you never get any at home with the way you're looking at me" she teased, Draco just raised an eyebrow at her, trying to keep a cool façade for being caught almost salivating over her.

"what can I do for you Ri?"

"I saw you being a moody git stomping the hallways this morning so thought I would cheer you up" As she said this he noticed the tray she had hovering behind her. "I got breakfast for us to eat together if you want company? Cheese and tuna toastie along with a large cup of coffee?"

"I see how you remember our comfort food, you're lucky I never piled on the pounds with these damn toastie's with the way I used to eat them, I still blame you for getting me addicted"

"You burned off the calories anyway so quit moaning and eat up I'm starving"

"Very well, Miss Potter-Black care to join me for breakfast?"

"I would love to Mr Malfoy" The duo sat down together enjoying their breakfast.

"Oh god Dray I think I ate too much!" Harri moaned lying down on the sofa in his living room.

Draco could not help but laugh at her and move her over so he could lie next to her. He missed moments like these; even just the friendship level of their bond was special to him.

"Your mother owled me this morning asking If I would like to join her for tea tomorrow"

"Hmm? You going?"

"Yeah, I need new teaching robes for this year, We have this thing going where I try out a new colour each term, we were making fun of Dumbledore's atrocious wardrobe and it somehow ended up I would wear every colour he once wore but make it look decent, I'm dreading when anything canary yellow comes up, I don't even think Cissa will be able to make that work" Draco had to laugh at that.

"I never realised you two were close, I knew my mother was out a lot but she never mentioned it was with you"

"That was mainly due to Lucius, I promise as soon as I can explain I will, but she stood by me through all of that, I'm not sure if you know but she was going to file for a divorce when she noticed how Lucius changed the last few years, and due to me being head of the house of black, I was helping her through it a lot. But she did not want to divorce him when he was putting you through a harsh time so I had everything set up money and living arrangement wise for her just in case and we just stayed close. I looked up to her a lot when I felt lost, we could relate to each other in a way, we both had no one to fall back on, both had to stand against the Dark Lord… she's an amazing woman and friend"

By the time she had finished explaining Harri and Draco were both lying on their sides facing each other. Just as they were getting lost in each other's eyes the alarm went off alerting Draco to someone trying to contact him through the floo. Both of them jumped apart , Draco being the closest to the edge fell off the sofa and smacked his arm on the coffee table causing Harri to burst out laughing.

"Dragon are you ok?" Came Narcissa's voice from the fireplace.

"Hey Cissa!" Harri enthusiastically greeted.

"Oh Harri! How are you? I'm not interrupting anything am i? I just called through to let Draco know that the she-dragon is currently storming around the manor!"

"hahaha oh god Cissa, how I love you. No the dolt jumped up when the floo alarm went off and fell off the sofa"

"Hmm now what were you two doing on the sofa together?"

"Cissa!" Harri squeaked a blush rising on her cheeks. "You know he is engaged I would never…"

"I can dream" Cissa whispered in response but both Draco and Harri heard her.

"You coming through Cissa?"

"Yes Dear hold on"

As soon as Cissa walked in looking as beautiful as ever she went to Harri and hugged the young woman kissing both cheeks.

"Do I even want to know why you are dressed like a Gryffindor?"

Harri and Draco's cheeks went bright red immediately. "I forgot I was dressed like this! Dray was in a mood this morning so I thought I would cheer him up, breakfast and hopefully a ridiculous outfit to make him laugh"

"Hmm I'm sure"

"This is my living quarters you know you could at least let me get a word in or greet me" Draco added surprisingly pleased seeing how his mother and Harri acted.

"Oh Cissa I knew that dress would like amazing on you! The colouring and fitting is perfect!" Harri gushed completely ignoring Draco who indignantly huffed and went back to the sofa.

"Oh I'm pleased you think so Harri, I was thinking of picking up that robe we saw that matched the strappy heels we saw. This term's colour is purple by the way..."

"Hmm I'm not sure on purple, we could get Draco something in a paler shade I think it would look good with his skin tone and hair colour"

"Yes I agree"

"Are you two finished choosing my wardrobe colours for me? And no way am I taking part in this competition against Dumbedore's robes"

"Oh my apologies Dragon I forgot you were here" Cissa said going over to kiss her son in greeting.

"It is fine mother, Harri is right though that dress makes you look as beautiful as ever"

"Thank you Draco, yes the meaning of my visit. I heard you and Pansy arguing this morning… since then she has been slamming around the manor. You know I usually don't mind things like this but she was standing in the heirs suite muttering to herself about her not being pregnant yet"

Draco noticed how Harri froze up at this and quickly diverted her attention to calling for refreshments. Narcissa gave her a comforting smile and turned back to her son.

"Do not worry mother I have no intention of having a child with her until at least a year after we wed. Things are not going well at the…

"I'll leave so you can talk about such private matters, I have work to do anyway. Breakfast was lovely Draco and I will see you tomorrow Cissa" Harri excused herself giving Draco a small smile and Cissa a hug. Narcissa watched as Draco's eyes never left Harri's form as she left.

"You were saying Draco?"

"Oh yes, sorry, things aren't going well at the moment. Harri slipped up and mentioned that she was the one who helped you throughout fathers passing and the funeral arrangements. I had no idea she did this as Pansy took all the credit"

"Yes she did, she was wonderful, I honestly don't know what I would have done without her at the time. Draco you know my thoughts on that young lady, she is lazy and only seems interested in what the Malfoy name will bring her when you marry. I really do not know what your father was thinking when he forced that contract into existence"

"I take it you know about Harri also then?"

"Of course I do Dragon! What sort of mother would I be if I did not see these things?"

"It's not easy seeing her mother…"

"I know Draco, but there is something you need to be told by her. When you find out you must listen to her as well and not be mad as she had no other choice"

"Harri mentioned needing to talk… I don't like the way this sounds mother, you both have me slightly worried"

"It's nothing harmful Draco do not worry, it is wonderful but the situation was anything but, I can't say more but Harri has assured me you will be told the weekend" Draco nodded along and both settled into a discussion.

Come Friday Draco was feeling content again, he had finally drew up a rough idea of what his teaching curriculum would be like, he had settled into the school and sorted out his head of house role, and today he was going to be having a seekers match with Harri. Just for the sake of proving he was now better on a broom than her, he claimed the curve of her hips and breasts would cause her technique to be sloppy, she argued the size of his head would topple him over. Nothing new really…So now Draco was on his way to the Quidditch pitch to meet his rival.

"Put this on ferret!" Harri shouted throwing him a Slytherin game robe.

"Sure you don't want to wear this one Potter? Might bring you some credibility to not be associated with being a Gryffindor"

"I'm gonna wipe the floor with you Malfoy, never actually won a game against me yet have you?" Harri laughed as she flew off high on her broom. She started to fly around the still stranding Draco, flying upside down and straight at him as if to crash into him before giggling and flying off.

"You're in for it Potter!" and the snitch was released. Neither of them were playing fairly, both were coming out with dirty tricks, Harri's included opening the buttons on her shirt to show off her cleavage, and Draco's included pretending to slip off the broom knowing Harri would be the noble princess and try to save him. After a few hours of flying they both sprawled out on the grass looking up at the clouds.

"One day Dray… Maybe if I lose both arms and go blind you may win against me" she consoled him. Draco couldn't help but laugh at her audacity.

"I let you win Ri, we both know how much of a sore loser you are"

"Oh is that true?"

"HmmHmm" next thing Draco knew he had the air knocked out of him as Harri dived on him and began to tickle him. "Oi quit it Ri!"

Draco really had enjoyed his afternoon with Harri but she said she had to rush off and do work so they had the day to talk over that matter tomorrow, so he decided to take to having a stroll around the castle, just as he was walking by the head office when he caught sight of a small boy who was shouting at the gargoyle.

"Hey little guy" Draco called. The small boy turned around and smiled broadly at him. He had to admit the boy was adorable, he had pale skin, blonde almost white hair with black running through it, it was styled neatly with his fringe swept to the side, and he had brilliant bright green eyes which had a grey outline. He was well dressed in black trousers, grey shirt and black cardigan.

"Hullo" the little boy replied, Draco could not help but smile at how adorable he was, he knelt down so he was eyelevel with the child.

"Can I help you with anything, I saw you shouting at the statue"

"Mommy says words for it to open"

"Yes that is what happens but it has to be a special word for that to happen"

"Special word?"

"Yeah, we change the word a lot so it makes it all the more special, now why do you need to go up there?"

"I see Sev"

"You want to go and see Severus?"

"Yeah!" the child nodded excitedly.

"How old are you little guy?"

"Three!" the child replied holding up four fingers, Draco put one finger down showing him what three fingers looked like. He had a million thoughts running through his mind at the moment, all of which could not possible be true…

"Where's your mother?"

"She's coming"

"How about we go up and see Severus then and then you can tell me all about your mother"

"Okie dokie" The boy immediately grabbed his hand and smiled up at him. Draco smiled softly down at him but at the same time was telling him off in his head for trusting an adult so easily.

"SEV!" the boy squealed when they entered the office and ran straight in front of the portrait.

"Hello little man, where is your mother?"

"She's coming!" the boy insisted

"Are you sure? Because if I remember correctly she never allows you to go off anywhere on your own…." Severus chided with a raised eyebrow knowing that it would make the boy confess

"But Sev I'm big now!" The boy insisted.

"You may be bigger now but you still should not run off from your mother… speaking of which someone is on their way up here now and they are not very happy"

Severus fought a smirk when he saw the boy gulp "ahh Draco I see you have met…"

"SCORPIUS POTTER-BLACK WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE PLAYING AT!" Harri shouted as she ran into the office in a panic.