For the most part, in those first years, I simply went along with whatever Harry told me to do. After enduring hours upon hours of, what amounts to being the equivalent of Muggle hypnosis in Debriefing, it just seemed like the best idea at the time, which is not to say that I always allowed my retraining to get in the way of finding out what I truly wanted to know. Or attempting to, anyway.
"I don't understand you."
It was the morning of my birthday, and we had just finished breakfast. Harry'd told me before we left the bedroom that we'd be going out, but I'd expected to floo there. Instead, he had trellypowned someone and a loud muddy yellow box on wheels had rumbled up our yard a half an hour later. Almost as soon as it arrived, Harry pushed me into the filthy backseat and gave the dark skinned bearded man complex directions to our destination.
"What do you mean?"
Harry turned away from the window separating us from the driver to face me, a slight indention in his brow.
"I mean, what's going on?"
"Well, right now, we're in taxi on our way to a car dealership." No, duh.
"No, I mean. What's really going on?"
"Do you think that's a conversation for now?"
We both glanced at the man seated in front of us, who seemed to be in his own little world as he sat jabbering into the small black device in his hand.
"The man's a Muggle, I seriously doubt that he'd have any inkling of what's going on, even if he were to stop talking to himself."
"Yes, but, we're in public. Where anyone could be listening."
"So? I doubt I'll ever get the story out of you in any other setting. Was my purchase a snap decision or what? What is your long term plan for me?"
"Look. We could fight about this or you could just accept it."
"This? Can't bear to actually describe it, can you, Potter?"
"Neither can you, Potter!"
"'M still a Malfoy on the inside. And that's different. You didn't go through that shit."
"I've been through enough."
"Oh poor me. I'm Harry Potter. I'm the reluctant hero. I'm so obviously bloody gorgeous, but you can't see it because I wear ugly wire framed glasses that are taped in the middle and my hair is a bit too poufy at the top. My parents and everyone who has ever cared about me have died. Oh boo fucking hoo. Cry me the river Styx, why don'tcha?"
"You're such a brat, Draco."
"Oh. I'm a brat? I see. And who was the one who went and fucking purchased another human being because they thought they weren't going to be recognized any other way? Oh right, you. Because if you couldn't have me, no one could, yeah? "
"You should be thanking me, you little shit."
"For what? Hiking my price up so that it made such a ruckus that it was put in record books? Those don't go away and now anyone searching for my name will know what happened to that dashing young Malfoy fellow!"
"No one has ever called you dashing."
I ran a hand through my newly straightened hair and shot him a quick glare.
"That's beside the point."
"Why can't you just say thank you for saving my life and be done with it?"
"I'd say thank you for saving my life and be done with it if you released me."
"Not happening anytime soon. Or ever." He crossed his arms and looked down his nose at me with a dare-me look on his face.
"Then why should I be thankful? I'm still stuck with you in this awkward situation." I waved a hand between the two of us rapidly.
"You're stuck? Look who I'm magically attached to."
"You're lucky."
"You're lucky" His voice was a cheap imitation of my smooth aristocratic drawl.
"Who's the fucking brat now, Potter?"
"Language."
"Exploding Snap. Why are we saying random words?"
"It's not random. I'm telling you to watch your mouth."
"Bullshit! You want me to motherfucking watch my goddam mouth?"
"Yes." He heaved a great sigh as though it were paining him to speak to me, "But without all the laced in profanities."
"Too fucking bad. Besides, you just called me a little shit. That's hardly a nice thing to call someone."
"That's different. I make the rules, so I get to break the rules."
"Did you steal that line from my father?"
"No. But I'd love to steal his pimp cane."
"T'isn't a pimp cane, but I'd hardly expect someone of your background to recognize the power symbolized by the heirloom of which you speak."
"It's a wonder you can even hear me."
"Why would I have difficulties hearing you?"
"Because you've got your head so far up your father's ass." He looked so smug that I just had to pop his holier-than-thou balloon.
"Dead father."
"Wha?
"My father's dead. So's my mum." I had only intended to say it to wound Harry, but my throat began constricting by the time I got to "mum". Gods, I missed them so much.
"Oh. I hadn't realized." He looked truly remourseful, even if he didn't apologize or offer his condolences.
"It wasn't really publicized. Aurors botching up a simple snatch and go like that."
"Aurors don't usually do a messy job."
"Yes, well we can safely assume that the Aurors in question had some sort of vendetta against the Malfoy clan."
"Probably. They were right gits, the lot of 'em."
"Gee, thanks. It's not like I'm one."
"Actually, you aren't. We went over this at breakfast. Don't tell me that place addled your brain."
"That place, Potter? Remember what your mud-blood said? 'Fear of the name only increases the fear of the thing itself'. Or something of that nature."
"Yeah yeah."
"Plus, once a Malfoy always a Malfoy. It's quite difficult to remove these stunningly good looks from the gene pool."
"Hmm. Not so hard, I don't think."
"Shut up, you wanker. It's difficult naturally, not by your artificial means."
"Ah."
"Don't say that. You sound like a child getting a check up from an oral-Healer."
"Speaking of Healers-."
"We weren't."
"What do you want to do?"
"Get the stupid ker that you're buying me and go back to bed. Or better yet! Buy back my freedom."
"You don't have that kind of money."
"I've loads of money."
"But you're priceless. I'd never sell you to anyone."
"What a bad investor you must be."
Harry shrugged sheepishly, "I actually meant to do as a job."
"Oh. I was meant to take over my father's business overseeings."
"Was meant to?"
"Yes. I'm not eligible anymore because of my slave status. Don't wince at that, you pansy! Get used to hearing the word."
"Well, where did the overseeings go?"
"I suspect that they're in your control, since you legally own me. Stop grimacing; it's not like you didn't choose your fate."
"I'll look into that for you. If they are in my control, would you like to oversee the er..overseeings?"
"Not really, no. I've never been too terribly interested in business and whenever my father brought me into his office, I'd fall fast asleep; it was dreadfully boring."
"Well. You have to do something."
"I don't really know how to do anything."
"You used to be pretty good at Potions."
"Pretty good? Potter, I could have become a Master in about three years."
"Why don't you do that, then?"
"Because that's what Severus did."
"Yes, and?"
"And he was my godfather and I loved him and I could never live up to his standards."
"Yes. A loved one's legacy can make you give up things."
"What would you know about loved ones?"
"I did know Sirius for two years before he died."
"So?"
"So, he willed everything to me. And I do mean everything."
"You aren't making any sense, which isn't that different than usual, but this time, I haven't an inkling of what you're speaking of."
"Your father has a Wizengamot seat. Or had, rather."
"Yeah. And?"
"And he was a Lord. At the time of Sirius' death, he was also a Lord."
"And because he didn't have any heirs and you were his godson, you received the title?"
"And the seat, yeah."
"But?"
"But I gave the seat, and almost everything that was willed to me, up."
"Why?"
"Because Sirius' memory haunted everything that used to be his."
"How dreadful. I suspect that everything with his memory plays jokes on people. Black was a, well, black sheep."
"So he told me."
"I can't believe you even gave the title up."
"How did you know I gave the title up?
"You're referred to as Lord Potter above all, and the Potters were beneath the Noble House of Black. Ergo, you relinquished the title."
"Clever."
"I try. One question though."
"Shoot."
"You haven't renounced your right to the title yet."
"That wasn't a question. And I don't plan to."
"Well that makes limited sense. Why give up the title, but keep your right to have that title?"
"It makes sense; I've always been known as Harry Potter. 'Harry Potter, the Lord Black' is confusing. Plus, Sirius would have wanted me to have at least kept it safe from the title-grabbing distant cousins."
"Like me?"
"Like you."
"Funny. I still get to have the rights to the title Black. I'll just have to pop Lady in front of it." I paused, savoring the victory over my dead relative. "Why do I have to pop Lady in front of it again?"
"Because I'm the Lord of the Manor. There can't technically be two Lords in a manor or title. Plus, you're a girl."
"No, I'm not."
"Yeah, you kinda are. Registered under female as of two hours ago."
"Tell that to my still-very-much-there cock."
"I would but we might frighten our cabbie."
"Frighten the cabbie? Even if I weren't a dame, I'd still be the hottest piece of ass he'd ever see."
"Probably."
"Probably? Potter, you practically came on yourself when you saw me this morning. The look on your face was positively hilarious."
"Glad you found it humorous."
"Glad you didn't give up your already tiny sense of humor along with everything else. You've already given half your life to the Ministry."
"You're right. I really have given up too much in my life."
"Gave up the Weaslette, didn't you?"
"Yes, but that wasn't too hard of a decision. Sort of like deciding what your job will be won't be too difficult of a decision."
"What a crappy segue."
"I don't recall asking for your opinion. What do you want to do?"
"Can't I just stay at your Manor and read?"
"It's your home, too. I didn't think you'd like to stay. It'd get boring with no one to torment all day."
"I don't just torment people all day, actual Potter."
"That's right; you also enjoy a good smirk."
"Hardee har har. You must be so proud of yourself."
"Actually, I am. I thought that was rather good. What did you think?"
"I think you should stick to the savior shtick and leave the comic relief to the professionals."
"Oh well, you can't say I didn't try."
"On the contrary sir, you tried too hard."
"Is my technique working, at least?"
"Technique for what?"
"I'm trying to relax you, sweetie. Disarm you and all that."
"Do I even want to know why?"
"Nah."
There was silence in our half of the warm box for a few minutes before I had to interrupt it. It was just too strange to be sitting in comfortable silence with Harry sodding Potter.
"Do these tackies always take so long?"
"Taxis." He corrected "It depends."
"On what?"
"How far away the place you're trying to get to is."
"Oh. Nothing like flooing."
"No. Nothing like flooing." He nodded, agreeing with me.
"How far away do you think it is?"
"It shouldn't be too long now."
"Harry?"
"Draco."
"How are we supposed to get this cor to the Manor? They sound big and the tacky is already so squished."
"We won't be carrying it. We'll be driving it."
"Oh. Driving. Is it difficult?"
"Not once you get the hang of it."
"I can't believe you managed to make that sound so superior."
"It's a gift."
"Or a curse to me. You're inferior to almost everyone; you shouldn't be allowed to make superior noises."
"If that wasn't an ego boost, I don't know what is."
"And now you think you've earned the right to use sarcasm, too?"
"Well, as they say: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."
"If by 'they' you mean Muggles, because I've never heard that idiom before."
"Breaking out the fancy words, are we, Malfoy?"
"Ha! You said Malfoy! I'm a Potter!"
"Glad you finally understand." He leered at me, leaning into my personal space.
"Fuck you." Frowning at my slip-up and his sheer nerve, I pressed a hand to his firm chest and attempted to push him away.
"Maybe someday soon." He retorted, grabbing my hand and pressing a kiss to my knuckles.
I drew it back and settled in closer to my window, contemplating my new reflection. The rest of the ride was endured with only the driver's rapid Farsi as background noise.
A/N: Hey guys, it's your author here. I've been working on my fic, when I realized that I still haven't found a beta. I've been shopping around, but no luck so far.:( If you happen to be a good beta or know one, please don't hesitate to send me a message. Thanks a bushel!
