AN: Ok so a few people were asking about this, so I thought I would clarify no Harry was not the raven-boy, Harry is a Gryfindor. Sorry this one took so long, I'm afraid I've come down with something, usually I get a lot of work done when I'm sick, but right now (and for the past week) I have just felt so exhausted, and I have finals next week. Winter break means more writing time though.
First Encounters: Chapter 5
Draco's stomach twisted with nerves as they rode to the Hufflepuff land. His mind kept flitting back to the conversation he had had with Theodore Nott, commander of the largest section of the Slytherin army. What if Theo was right and this was all just a plot to ambush us? Draco tried to reassure himself that the Hufflepuff king and queen would not allow that on their lands.
He chanced a glance at Greg, who had all but ignored him for the past two days to avoid answering another question about weather the security at the castle was up to par with Draco's expectations.
There hadn't been any major battles since the day Hermione had come to the castle, only small unplanned skirmishes when the Slytherin troops happened upon Gryffindor troops.
Draco glanced at the other two guards, the Hufflepuff's had made them keep their numbers down to five and assured them that the Gryffindors would be thus required as well. There was Severus Snape, one of the older guards that had been my fathers guard since my father's coronation. Marcus Flint was the other; he was the guard closest to Draco in age and very loyal although he was a rather zealous fighter.
When they finally arrived in the Hufflepuff encampment, for the odd tent grouping could hardly be called a city, Draco's nerves were even more frazzled then they had been when he had first started out on the long journey through the Hufflepuff desert.
The guide that had led them to the Hufflepuff encampment led them through the confusing maze of tents to the only building for miles around, the hufflepuff castle.
When Draco entered the Hufflepuff reception room his eyes were first drawn to the two sets of five golden and squashy looking pillows. It then logically followed that his eyes then fell upon the people sitting on one of the setts of pillows.
His eyes first recognized the bushy brown hair of Hermione Potter. On her right was a tall pale man with bright red hair and freckles, probably a guard. On Hermione's right there was a woman Draco could only assume was Hermione's mother, she had to get that mess of hair from someone. On the other side of Hermione's mother was a girl, probably around the same age as Draco. Her hair and completion matched that of the red haired man's. Probably related, and she was probably a guard as well Draco thought taking into account the way she sat on the cushion.
Draco's breath caught in his throat as his eyes took in the person lounging on the cushion next to the red haired girl. A mixture of panic and fear and something else, that he would rather not think about with his father in the room, swept through Draco's body as he took in the sight of Harry Potter, casually lounging on a cushion a mere ten feet away.
Draco carefully composed his face into a sneer hoping that no one noticed the way his heart seemed to stop for a few seconds when Harry looked up at him from underneath the veil of unruly black hair with those shocking emerald green eyes.
Draco looked away, breaking the staring contest that he had unknowingly entered into with the bloody Gryffindor, and took his seat next to his father on one of the squashy golden cushions.
Cedric Digory, king of Hufflepuff, motioned for their attention before returning to the cushion he was sharing with Susan Bones, queen of Hufflepuff. She cleared her throght before speaking.
"I already know this is going to be hard for everyone but so long as you are willing to try, there is a chance for peace" She paused when the Gryffindor guards began to grumble. Then both Harry and Hermione shot them glares that had Draco been on the receiving end of them would have made him flinch. Reasonably, the guards quieted.
"Lily, You are the Gryffindor queen are you not?" asked Susan
Lily, Harry and Hermione's mother nodded and then spoke "I am but my King is dead, Harry will be king in a few weeks, You should address him as our leader."
"Harry have you not chosen a pair bond yet?"
Harry raised angry eyes to look up at the Hufflepuff queen and the female guard next to him was suddenly very interested in the fringe on the cushions. No need to be a cunning Slytherin to figure out what was going on between those two.
What Harry said next however, surprised Draco.
"Taking a pair bond in the middle of this war would be like giving a death sentence to a woman in return for her love. I've learned from experience that not even a woman with child is safe from the killing, not when she's carrying my family's blood."
Draco heard someone utter a sad sigh and had to, once again tear his eyes away from Harry to look towards Susan. She looked a little green actually, but then she recovered and began to speak to my father "And whom should I address as your leader?"
I was pleasantly surprised when my father said "My son, Draco Malfoy, he will be king soon."
"How soon?" asked Susan
My father had been preparing me to be king ever since my elder brother had died, but had, as of yet set no dates. I was surprised when, after a brief pause, he answered, "On his next birthday"
"And do you, Draco have a pair bond?" Susan asked
"No, My pair bond was killed two years ago"
"How much are you willing to give up for peace?" This, Susan's latest question, was directed at both of us.
I took a moment to take into consideration all the battlefields, the deaths of Pansy, my pair bond, and of my little sister, and Matt Potter's face and voice as he begged me to end it.
"Anything" I answered and not even a breath later Harry answered "Everything"
Susan quietly conferred with Cedric before speaking again.
"When you burn yourself what do you do? You poor cool water on the burns. It is the same when you have hatred, to mend it you must use its opposite. To mend a riff so vast as the one between your two countries you must start at the heart." She paused and I glanced at Harry to see if he understood any of this lousy Hufflepuff mumbo gumbo.
"You came here seeking my advice, all I can leave you with is this, you can only sew shut such a rip as this by making the two sides one again. Draco Malfoy, and Harry Potter, you have both said that you would give up anything and everything for peace." She paused again to look at the two of us. "Never ask your people to do something you do not have the courage, or determination to do yourselves." She addressed the whole room as she said this next part. "You must make peace with each other. Join the two royal families together. Harry Potter take Draco Malfoy as your pair bond, Draco Malfoy take Harry Potter as yours."
Greg was the first to jump to his feet to protest, though the female guard shouted not a moment later. My father rose from his seat, as did Lily Potter. Harry's voice could be heard saying. "That's idea's completely mad". My own objections were stuck in my throat.
Some hufflepuff guards made everyone sit back down again, even as Susan and Cedric were rising from their cushion. Susan's voice was sad when she said. "How can you expect your people to do something you yourself can't do? Stay here for the night, think on my words—"
"Wait please..." Harry interrupted
"You may return tomorrow at sunset if you wish to do so."
And just like that we were all bared from the Hufflepuff reception hall, and led to our rooms.
AN: My head hurts like hell right now but I'm glad I got this chapter done finally. Thanks for reading please review.