This Is Who You Are
by kittenvks
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING Harry Potter and co. belong to JKR
Warnings, etc: Slash, HPDM RWHG, flamers to the left.
Chapter Ten: Lilly and Presents
LuvlyLadyLexi: I know, right? XD I read that in another fic and absolutely had to use it here, I thought it was beautiful! Very Gryffindor, don't you think?
fiona flame: Oh yes, I love them like this, or best friends. I'm glad you agree, I've always pictured Blaise as being the next in line for Slytherin Prince, one of the only Slytherins that doesn't mindlessly follow Draco.
sghazalifard: Oh, Lilly is one of my favorite characters in this. She's very charming I think, and snarkiness is *totally* a word when speaking about the Malfoy lineage. Words have to be created to describe them, rofl.
Question: Does everyone else think Adduco (small, persuasive in Latin translation) is a good name for Draco's owl? Also, how do you feel about Ron and Hermione's treatment of our Slytherin Prince?
Draco awoke to find that he was having a bit of a problem stretching. Opening his eyes to look around, he found that he was on the very edge of the couch, Harry's arms and legs draped over him. Lilly had woken up at some point during the night and had joined the pile as well; one pale freckled arm splayed across Draco's chest, the other resting on top of Harry's face. Her legs were entertwined with he father's, her hair fell all about them in red curls. Draco smiled softly and quietly began disentangling himself from the two Potters. It was that moment that Hermione decided to Floo in. Stepping out of the fireplace she snickered, hand over her mouth,
"That's cute." she said quietly so as not to wake them. Draco scowled at her, finally freeing himself and nearly falling in the floor.
"Potters." Draco said, "Potters everywhere."
Adduco awaited the unlikely pair in the kitchen, one parchment tied to each of his legs.
"I'll expect that to be news of the Sorting." Hermione said as Draco took each letter. On one was Harry's name, the other, Draco's. Draco unrolled his parchment, quickly reading it over.
"Yes, Scorpius says he's enjoying everything and was sorted into Slytherin," Draco replied, filling his cup full of coffee, "the sorting hat barely touched his head."
"You don't seem too surprised." Hermione said, sitting down with her own cup across from him.
"Should I be? He is a Malfoy." Draco replied, staring at Hermione.
"True. I wonder where Albus was sorted. They both used Adduco, so I assume it was Slytherin. Ron will not be pleased." Hermione said, eyeing the other letter.
"Slytherin? For Harry bloody Potter's child?" Draco asked, scowling.
"Oh yes, Albus has been a Slytherin since he spoke his first words- we've never had any doubt, though Ron has held out hope. Harry was almost sorted into Slytherin," Hermione said, smiling again.
"Oh, yes... I had forgotten him telling me that. If the youngest son of the Boy Who Lived Twice has really been sorted into Slytherin, I swear I'll go and buy at least two pounds of sweets to send him."
"You know," Harry said from the doorway, "I hear that Severus' portrait guards the Slytherin common rooms now." He crossed the room, Lilly on his heels, to get his own cup of coffee before reading his own letter, grinning. "Dear Dad, I've been sorted into Slytherin, like Aunt Hermione said. Tell Uncle Ron I'm sorry. There's a rather rude man guarding the door, he laughed and left his frame when I told him my name! There is some rather loud annoying girl following Scorpius and I around. He asked her to leave and when she didn't I ended up yelling at her, sorry. Her voice... it just really grates my nerves. Her name is Petunia Parkinson. Other than her, I am doing well. Love, Albus."
At this point Draco was spluttering, having nearly choked on his coffee and Lilly was patting his back, trying to help.
"Oh Merlin's trousers, another Parkinson... and a flower name at that. Ridiculous." Draco said, grinning. Hermione snickered, taking another sip of her coffee before speaking.
"So, Slytherin... I do need to go to Diagon Alley today, would you like to join me?" She asked grinning at Draco. Draco laughed and turned to Harry,
"What sort of sweets does your boy like?" Hermione snickered again, looking innocently at Harry.
"Chocolate frogs, of course," Harry said then to Hermione, "I've got to work today, or I'd go with you two, sorry."
They soon left, chatting amiacably about the most recent advances in Potions. After a quick lunch, Draco and Hermione made their way to Twillfitt and Tattings, a shop that had been a favorite of Narcissa's.
"I'm just saying, I've seen their Auror robes, and I think that- between us- we could greatly improve on a cloak or something that would keep them a bit safer," Hermione was saying as they stepped into the shop. Draco nodded, also having noticed Harry's Auror robes.
"I do believe we could, though the Ministry would never allow it to be commonplace, it would just be too expensive to give one to all the Aurors," Draco replied, stopping to look at several bolts of fabric. Hermione held two robes draped over her arm, both sized for Harry and Ron. Draco eyed the fabric for a bit before a shop worker came over, glancing at them both with extreme distaste.
"How may I help you?" he asked, sneering. Draco turned, standing a bit straighter and gave him his most fearsome sneer before replying,
"I suppose *you* might be able to help us," he said, his own voice sounding very bored, "I'm looking for Dragonhide, to line these cloaks with, do you think you could do that?" the man spluttered, looking shocked.
"Mr. Malfoy, yes sir! I'd be more than happy to assist you. We just received some Dragonhide from Romania, a Hungarian Horntail actually. It's the finest quality, I'll get on that myself sir, right now."
"See that you do. I shall be back in two hours to pick them up- assuming they meet my standards?"
"Y-yes sir." The man said, taking the robes from Hermione and scuttling off. She laughed, watching him go.
"What a presumptious little prat he was," she said.
"Yes, well, it's all in how you talk to people like him." Draco said, dismissing the thought with a flutter of his hand.
"Well, we've spelled them to hide their faces, charmed them to stay warm or cool, and the Dragonhide should keep them reasonably fire proof... what about a way to call for help?" Hermione said as they left the shop. Draco seemed thoughtful for a moment before nodding to himself.
"That would be a bit harder to do, though there is a shop in Knockturn Alley, we could get clasps put on them, or a crest of some kind." Hermione thought for a moment before nodding and they headed off, purchasing two emblems, four total, to attach to the robes. The clasps were both small silver lions, that would cause the matching set (for Hermione and Draco) to roar if one were to be in immediate danger. When they returned, their cloaks were ready- lined in the finest dragonhide. Draco paid the man and they left, headed for the Auror's office.
Hermione insisted on stopping before they got there and picking both boys up some lunch as neither usually ate while at work. Draco had scowled at that, and Hermione insisting on paying for it before heading back on their path. They stopped in the main lobby of the ministry to look at the portrait of Astoria that hung there, dedicating the AMEWS to her and all others killed by escaped prisoners. Draco had smiled softly at the portrait, making a mental note to bring Scorpius on his break to show him, before they got on the lifts and headed up to the Auror's Offices.
"...we've been working hard to catch all the remaining Death Eaters, there aren't that many left at this point," Hermione was saying as they stepped out of the doors. The Auror's office was busy, notes flying back and forth everywhere, secretaries bustling about.
"Well, maybe these will keep them a bit safer," Draco said, gesturing to the bag he held that had the cloaks in them. He followed Hermione down a cooridor to the left, several witches and wizards turning to stare at the unlikely pair.
"Honestly, get back to work." Hermione snapped at one of them, shooing him away with her hands. She stopped dead in her tracks then, reaching an arm out to stop Draco. He paused, following her gaze. "Oh, honestly." Hermione said, huffing.
Harry and Ron were sitting at two desks in the same office, looking rather uncomfortable. They were easily seen through the large glass window that overlooked the other Auror's desks. A couple that appeared to be twins to Draco, male and female, were in the office with them. They were obviously flirting, both sitting with their hips on the desks, leaned in a little too closely. The male sitting at Harry's desk was inches from him, holding up an important looking paper, though Draco highly doubted that's what they were talking about. The female had her hand on Ron's chest.
"Who are they?" Draco asked, turning to look at the scowling Hermione.
"Katherine and Kane Bulstrode," Hermione seethed, "we tried to set Kane up with Harry last year, and Katherine just assumed that Ron wanted someone else as well. They're insatiable and often come up here to bother them. They work for the Department of Mysteries downstairs."
"And Harry doesn't like this Kane bloke?" Draco asked, watching Harry lean away from the man.
"Oh, no, it turns out he's one of the bigger mistakes Ron and I have made, kinda creepy. Honestly, Draco, if I'd have known you'd come back..." Hermione began but Draco held up his hand to stop her.
"It's okay, really it is," he said grinning at her, "what do you say, we run them off?"
"Oh, let's." Hermione said, sarcasm and jealousy dripping from her words.
Together, the two closed the distance quickly, grinning at each other mischieviously just before they stepped through the door, not bothering to knock. All four office occupants started at their arrival, coming to a standing position. Kane had been suggesting he and his sister take Ron and Harry out to lunch,
"There will be no need for that, thank you." Draco said politely, crossing the room to lean up and kiss Harry quickly, his arms snaking around the Head Auror's neck. "We've already brought them lunch," he said, gesturing to the bag Hermione had set on Ron's desk. Harry looked down at him, confused a bit before smiling.
"Thank you, Draco," Harry said, leaning down to kiss the blonde again.
"We've also brought you gifts," Hermione said, sitting comfortably on the edge of Ron's desk, her arm around the Weasley's waist, resting a bit lower than was appropriate, "as a thank you for the dancing and dinner last night."
"How sweet," Kane said, his voice dripping with jealousy. Draco smiled his best smile at the man before pulling away to get Harry's lunch from the bag.
"Yes, he does tend to be, thank you." he replied, digging through the bags and pulling out the carton of food. He looked up briefly, "who are you?"
"Kane Bulstrode, Mr. Malfoy, I already know who you are. I work for the Department of Mysteries."
"Yes, they do very interesting things down there, I suppose." Draco nodded and then, "what would you have found that needed the Auror's offices?" Kane and Katherine both visibly paled.
"We found a dark artifact, thought they would want to know," Katherine muttered. Draco nodded in understanding, placing Harry's food on his desk.
"Er- that's really Auror Thomas' area of expertise." Ron said, glancing sideways at his wife, "thank you for offering though, Harry and I already have a lot to do today."
"Yes, now, if you two are done here?" Hermione asked, gesturing toward the door with one hand, "Draco and I have been waiting all day to spend time with these two."
"Quite." Draco responded, crossing his arms over his chest pointedly. Both Katherine and Kane Bulstrode left quickly with muttered goodbyes.
"Tramp." Hermione snorted as the door closed, taking a seat on the couch and gesturing for Draco to join her.
"Agreed." Draco sneered, watching them leave as he sat down.
Harry and Ron glanced across the room at each other, lips thin from trying not to laugh, though they said nothing. Both sat down, reaching for their food.
"You two've already eaten?" Ron asked, taking a bite of his sandwich and moaning appreciatively. Hermione nodded, glancing at Draco.
"Went to the Three Broomsticks," she said, picking up the bag that held the magical cloaks, "luckily we were in better company there."
"Oh, come on, 'Mione," Harry said, looking at them both, "they're just..."
"Tramps." Ron finished, snickering.
"Quite." Draco snapped, glancing at the bag Hermione now held. "We did get you two something. Took all morning to hunt everything down."
Harry took another bite of his sandwich, watching them curiously as Draco pulled out one of the cloaks and shook it out a bit.
"It's a cloak for each of you," Hermione said, "we charmed them several ways, do try to wear them when you're out in the field."
"They'll keep you cool- or warm, depending." Draco said.
"Also, if there's a problem, there's a charmed pendant sort of clasp on them," Hermione said, pointing out the silver lions, "Draco and I have the matching sets so that if there's trouble, the clasps will warn us."
"The insides are lined with Dragonhide," Draco said, opening it for them to see, "it's not perfectly fire proof, but I doubt you'll come up against any fire strong enough to burn through." he turned the cloak over, handing it to Harry, "and," he added, glancing at Ron, "I've added the charm that will hide your faces with the hood up."
Harry and Ron both stood, taking the cloaks and putting them on. They both pulled up the hoods, their faces disappearing and they turned to look at each other.
"Merlins socks, this is bloody awesome," Ron said, grinning though they couldn't see it.
"It is." Harry said, feeling the charms already cooling the air around him, "how exactly do the clasps work?"
Hermione drew her wand, smiling, and shot a hex at Harry, purposefully missing and hitting the wall. All four of the clasps in the room roared.
"Like that," she said, grinning mischieviously.
"Bloody brilliant." Ron said, pulling his hood back, "I love it, thank you." Harry nodded and hugged them both.
"It's amazing," he said, holding the hug with Draco a bit longer than was friendly. Draco grinned back at him.
"Yes well, we're going to go back to Grimmauld, and try to look up some more enchantments for them," he said, blushing a bit when Harry kissed his cheek.
"Like what?" Ron said, taking a seat beside Hermione.
"Oh, something to deflect hexes. You can't stop them all together, but maybe we could lessen the blow a bit," she said, leaning against her husband.
"Yes, and a few others, we're still thinking on it. Wouldn't want to set off the wards around here with them, afterall." Draco said as Harry sat down next to him, his lunch in his lap.
"We really need to go look into that, wouldn't want to keep you two for too long," Hermione said after a few moments. Draco nodded and stood, taking Hermione's arm in his.
"Shall we?" She grinned back at him, bowing her head in acknowledgement as they left.