I hate my internet connection…its just refusing to load ffnet now!! Right now, I've connected my cell-phone to the computer….and this is so darn slow!
Anyway, lots of new reviewers last time!(I hope you'll review this one too!) I've got like…seven average reviewers so I know who reviews and who doesn't! I do value them so much! So I missed the usual 'Update soon' and funny reviews this time!
Harry didn't know when he fell asleep last night. But he remembered that whatever sleep he got was infested with odd dreams. One of them was particularly vivid. He and Draco(not as a ghost…the alive one) were standing in the balcony. They were talking about something, and then suddenly, they look at each other…leaning in…closer and closer, their lips brush-
And Harry bolted upright, wide awake
I CANNOT BELIEVE I DREAMT THAT!
His breathing was heavy, eyes wide open. He looked around the room wildly, eyes settling on the portrait.
"What's wrong?"
Harry screamed.
"Harry!"
"Draco…you scared me…"
"Okay, calm down. You must've had a bad dream."
Harry nodded, and gratefully accepted the glass of water that Dobby had brought on Draco's orders.
"Feeling better now?" Draco asked cautiously, moving over to Harry's side.
"Yeah…thanks." Harry said, his voice steadying.
They sat in silence for a while.
"Okay, so now will you bother to tell me what's happening?"
"Over some breakfast, please?"
Draco sighed, "Oh alright…"
Harry quickly showered and went down to the kitchen.
"Okay, I've waited long enough…"
"Ginny and I had a fight," Harry said slowly. I have to lie my way out of this.
"About what?"
Damn, its not gonna be easy convincing him.
"She wanted commitment," Harry continued, "I didn't…"
Draco nodded.
"And we fought. I think she's mad at me…"
Draco snorted and Harry glared at him.
"That's sensitive of you!" My, I am a brilliant actor…
"Sorry, but this is such a common topic of fighting over! If you don't mind me asking, why don't you want commitment?"
"Oh come on!" Harry spluttered, "I'm not even sure I lo-" Harry halted.
"What?"
"Draco, how would you know if you loved a person?"
Draco shrugged, "I'm afraid you're asking the wrong person. I never did fall in love with anyone. Although I'm pretty sure many fell for me." He said it so off-handedly that Harry cracked up.
Draco gave him a deadpan stare, "I'm being serious over here. But what's with this question all of a sudden?"
"I dunno," said Harry, completely honest this time, "it just suddenly popped into my head…"
"So, you're not sure you love Ginny…"
"Err…"
"Then why on earth do you go out with her?"
"Err…"
Draco tutted impatiently.
"I did fancy her…but I'm not too sure now…" Harry didn't like the direction this conversation was heading.
Draco sighed, "Whatever. What was that nightmare then?"
"It was..err…me and Ginny getting married," Harry lied again.
Draco snorted yet again, "What? Hehe, no wonder you looked so freaked out…"
Harry grinned, "Yeah…ridiculous, isn't it?" The dream I actually had…
"Very. Women…honestly!"
Harry smirked at him, "Say Draco, why do you think Pansy didn't come yesterday?"
Draco whistled innocently, "How am I to know?"
"You were going to marry her…"
"That was arranged when I was eleven years old! I had absolutely no intention of doing so!"
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned…"
"Oh, cut the dramatics…"
Harry moved his chair next to Draco, "Come on, tell me what had happened."
Draco rolled his eyes, "She…err…sorta wanted to marry me even after I was dead…"
"What?!"
"Yeah, stupid really. I never knew she loved me that much, or maybe she just wanted to be a part of the Malfoy will. And she used to come here and bore the shit out of me everyday. I…err…once lost my cool and let it slip that I didn't love her back one bit and had absolutely no intention of marrying her either. I haven't seen her eversince…" he ended delicately.
Harry burst into laughter.
"It isn't funny!" Malfoy snapped, although he himself was smiling.
"It so is! But really, women!" And this time, they both started laughing.
They had just quieted down when Dobby announced that Ron Weasley had come.
"Ron?" Harry said, surprised, "Nice to see you, mate. Want some coffee?"
"Yeah sure," Ron nodded absently, "Harry, I need to ask a favour…"
Harry raised his eyebrows, "What is it?"
"Well, you see…" Ron hesitated, "With me getting married in a few weeks, I wanted to throw a party of sorts. All our Hogwarts mates together…"
"You want my house?"
"I don't want it…since you're gonna be there as well. I was just wondering if I could throw it here…"
"Same thing, Ron…"
"So?"
Harry looked at Draco, who shrugged.
"It'll be fun to see you all get drunk.' The ghost said, "So go right ahead…"
"Yep, so when's the party?" Harry asked, grinning.
"I was thinking of this Friday…"
"Fine with me."
Ron smiled broadly, "Thanks mate, knew I could count on you!" He finished the rest of his coffee and was gone.
"You want me to invite any of your friends?" Harry asked Draco.
He shook his head, "Nah, let it be just you and your close friends."
"If you say so-"
Just then, an owl swooped into the room, dropping a letter on Harry's lap.
"Hey, its our owl…" Draco said dumbfoundedly.
"It's a letter from your father," Harry said, even more astounded, "inviting us to dinner at the Malfoy manor."
They both looked at each other.
"This is unexpected…" Draco said slowly.
"Even Blaise has been invited," Harry added, reading the letter again.
"I presume he would be the one who suggested this." Draco sighed.
"Well, I'll send back an affirmative then?"
Draco fixed him with an amused stare, "No one in their right minds would refuse a dinner invitation from the Malfoys…"
"Right," Harry smiled, "So I'm supposed to floo over by 6pm…okay…"
"I'll have to take along something," Harry mused, "What do your parents like, Draco?"
"The safest bet would be to take along a bottle of champagne…"
"Right, better be off then!"
Draco watched on as Harry hastily grabbed a cloak and disapparated. Why did he feel that Harry was…nervous?
Harry was feeling slightly anxious. Formal dinners always got him nervous, and one with Draco's parents had completely freaked him out.
Great, first Ginny's accusation and now a meeting with Draco's parents! No no! I can't think of it like that! Its just a formal dinner…nothing else…for heaven's sake…Draco is a ghost, Harry!
"Harry, are you with me?" Draco's voice broke into his thoughts and Harry jumped, "Its nearly time…"
Harry nodded, "Any suggestions on what I should wear?"
Draco couldn't help it, he started laughing, "What is it with you? We're not going to arrange your marriage or anything!"
Harry blushed scarlet at that causing Draco to start laughing again.
Oh, if only you knew…
"Well then," Draco said, a smirk on his face now, "You wear something of mine then. That's sure to be good. Dobby!"
Harry had to admit, the dress robe of Draco's was good(and pretty expensive by the looks of it).
"But won't your parents know its yours?" Harry said, futilely running a comb through his hair.
"My parent didn't keep a tab on my wardrobe!"
Harry appraised himself in the mirror. The jet black robe had been embroidered in dark green and fitted him perfectly.
Draco rolled his eyes, "Now that you don't fancy Ginny, are you trying to impress Blaise?"
Harry gagged, "Oh shut the hell up!"
Draco chuckled, "Well then, come on! You don't want to be late do you?"
"How're you coming there?" Harry asked, curious.
"Just cause I'm a ghost doesn't mean I have to be stuck in one place…"
"That doesn't answer my question…"
"Oh just go! I'll be there!"
Harry shrugged, threw the floo powder into the fireplace, and stepped into the green flames.
"Malfoy manor!"
Harry carefully clutched the bottle of champagne as he spun past other fireplaces. He finally stopped spinning and stepped out to face an older version of Draco.
Harry stepped backwards.
"Harry Potter," said the man, extending a hand, "A pleasure to meet you."
Harry took it, "The pleasure is mine, sir."
"Lucius Malfoy, and this is my wife Narcissa."
"Thank you for inviting me tonight," Harry said, presenting the bottle to Lucius, who accepted it graciously.
"Ah, Blaise told us about you. We appreciate the fact that you knocked some sense into our Draco." Lucius' voice was soft yet it was cold and authoritative.
"This hall isn't a very comfortable place to carry on a conversation," Narcissa spoke up, "please, lets move to the living room."
Blaise was already present in the living room, sipping some drink. He stood up when they entered, extending a hand towards Harry.
"Hello, Blaise," Harry smiled, shaking his hand, "good to see you again."
"Yes, where's Draco?"
"He hasn't arrived yet. I have no clue how gho-"
Just then, Draco floated in through the door, "Sorry I'm late. Did I miss anything?"
"Draco."
"Father." They held each other's gazes for a long time.
"Draco, nice to see you again, dear." Narcissa yet again broke the cold silence. He nodded to her, "Same here, mother."
Harry purposely sipped his wine. The formality was stifling.
"So," Lucius turned to Harry, "you are an auror, right?"
Throughout the whole time, Harry couldn't help but notice that Lucius seemed quite distant towards Draco. Harry couldn't fathom why it might be so for Narcissa was warm and very happy to talk to her late son.
"Draco," Lucius said, "I do not know if you're aware of this fact, but they have sealed that fireplace now. And the floo regulations have become even more stricter now…"
Harry placed his fork down and looked at Draco, "Fireplace?"
"You don't know about it," Draco muttered, not looking at Harry.
"About what?"
"About the fireplace incident…"
"So tell me."
"Am I to assume that you do not know how my son died?" Lucius interrupted smoothly.
Harry looked confusedly from father to son, "Wha- how he died? I never asked him that…I-I didn't want to upset him or anything…"
"Now this is odd," Lucius frowned.
"Father, this isn't an appropriate conversation for dinner," Draco said, his voice hard.
"But, I want to know," Harry said quietly.
Draco's head whipped towards him, he paused and then- "Maybe later, Harry."
Harry wanted to snap back at him but held his tongue. He instead chose to look away and strike up a conversation with Blaise. Even Lucius didn't press the topic.
"Harry, do you mind going up to my room and waiting there for me?" Draco asked as soon as dinner was over,
"Your room?" Harry repeated.
Draco lowered his voice so only Harry could hear him, "Father's almost dying to talk to me alone now. So, just go and wait for me in my room…'
Harry nodded, said goodbye to Blaise, who was leaving and allowed a house elf to lead him to Draco's room.
Draco's room in the Malfoy manor was, there was no other word for it, magnificent.
The floor was richly carpeted in the darkest red. The huge four-poster bed had silver silk drapes. The furniture was dark ebony. One of the walls had a portrait of Draco himself.
Vanity is his greatest sin…
French windows led to a beautiful marble balcony. A couple of exotic flowers were growing there. Harry walked around, although the room hadn't been lived in for years, it was still well-maintained.
Harry was surveying a black rose when Draco slid in.
"Havent heard of subtlety, have you?" Harry commented, smiling.
"Oh, shut up."
"What did your dad want to talk about?"
Draco sighed, "Stupid inheritance and stuff. Now that his only heir is dead, he has to pick someone from my distant cousins. I'd rather have you or Blaise inherit this than anyone from them." He sounded disgusted.
Harry laughed and flopped down on the bed.
"Draco?"
"Yeah?"
"How did you die?"
"I knew this was coming, typical of my father to mention it on such an occasion."
"You're quite cold towards each other…"
"Father and I? Yeah, It was quite well when I was young. But once I could start thinking for myself…our ideals clashed. Needless to say, I was quite happy to move out."
Harry bit his lip, they were hovering on unsteady territory. Thankfully, Draco didn't say anymore on it-
"So, how I died…it was really stupid actually. I was returning from the Ministry through the floo network. As soon as I threw in the powder and opened the connection…it just blew. Yeah, exploded." Draco averted his gaze, "And I couldn't even do anything. All I remember is…pain…excruciating pain. I- At that moment I just wanted it to end, it was so horrible…and- and well, that's what happened…it ended. I died."
Draco's fistswere clenched by the time he finished.
"I'm sorry I made you recount that," Harry said softly.
"Its okay. You had a right to know anyway. Later they found out it was a planned attack, all the fireplaces had been hexed so that they'd blow up each time a connection was opened. It was a planned Anti-Ministry attack. Since it happened late at night, there weren't many present there. And it was all hushed up so as to not scare anyone."
Harry scratched his head, "Now that you mention it, I do remember something about a fireplace blowing up…something like four years ago?"
Draco's eyes widened, "That is surprising…" They lapsed into silence, each in their own thoughts.
Finally, Harry stood up, "So, shall we get going?"
Draco nodded, "Lets go."
Harry was very grateful towards the Malfoys for having invited him to dinner because he had learnt something very important about Draco that night.
And this puts an end to the speculation that Draco isn't dead…hehe…it is kinda stupid, killing him in a fireplace…but just consider it like a terrorist attack…
And how do ghosts travel from one place to another...dunno...just assume they do please!
Longest chapter so far…so drop me a review for that! But its hastily written, so I might edit it a bit after the fic ends…
Next update…depends on my internet connection…
Cheers!
