Draco led his mate through the crowded hall confidently. He could feel the tension pouring off of the raven behind him, and attempted to ignore it. The blonde knew that this needed to be done sooner or later, and Harry had said he wanted to see Ron.
They had just about made it to the Malfoy table when a girl with tight brown curls and sour hazel eyes stepped in their way. Draco stopped, eyeing her unpleasantly. She smiled thinly, eyebrows dipping down in a menacing look.
"Good evening, Draco." The girl whined in her bittersweet voice. Draco nodded, pulling Harry closer to him.
" Priscilla."
The girl sniffed, throwing her mass of tight brown curls over her shoulder, her giant gaudy necklace shimmering in the light as she did so. Draco frowned, nostrils flaring in disgust.
Priscilla smiled, obviously having struck a nerve, and strutted closer, hips swaying delicately from side to side. She stopped just a few inches from Draco, and even closer to Harry.
"Mother was most displeased when we got the news of your new...toy. She's just been going on and on of how un-becoming it is for the Malfoy heir to be so open with what should be bedroom secrets." She took a step closer, So that her mouth was almost upon Harry's cheek.
"Though he does seem rather...fun."
Draco jerked Harry behind him, glaring down at the girl.
"I would appreciate if you would hold your tongue when my family has so graciously welcomed you to our home. I will not hesitate to have you thrown out, little girl." Priscilla stepped back, lips curling in a snarl.
"You just remember who I am and what family I come from, Draco. I can make your life more miserable than you could ever imagine without laying a single finger on you!" With that, the girl spun around, hair flying in all directions, and stomped off. Draco caught sight of her mother as he pulled Harry to their table, supporting the same tight lipped expression her daughter always wore.
The blonde pulled his mates chair out from under the table, allowing the raven to sit before pushing the chair back. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to the boys brow, and then sat himself in his own chair.
Lucius smiled at his son, passing a basket of rolls to Narcissa, who wore a sour expression and was glaring at Harry.
Draco cleared his throat, hoping to get his mothers attention elsewhere. She looked to him slowly, but the hate never left her eyes.
"I hear you've gotten into gardening, mother. How is that coming?" Narcissa sniffed, raising her head snootily.
"Quite well. I've started a club for the other ladies of the castle to join. We meet on Wednesdays. My Wisteria plants are growing quite nicely." Draco nodded, taking the basket of rolls from her and placing one on Harrys plate before placing one on his own.
"Harry is quite the gardener as well, mother. He grew his own food and medicinal herbs at home, isn't that right, love?" Harry nodded quickly, cheeks growing red from the attention. Narcissa sniffed again, looking away.
"Yes well, It's just a stupid little thing I felt like trying. Almost too easy. Hardly worth my time." Draco saw Harry's face fall as the blush deepened. Lucius quickly stepped into the conversation.
"Draco, did you hear that little black horse finally had a colt?" Draco nodded, looking up.
"Yes. He's going to be a fine war horse, that one." The older blonde man smiled, glancing at Harry, whose face was still beet red.
"So, Harry. What kind of things are you interested in?" The ravens head snapped up, mouth hanging open slightly. He glanced at Draco, who nodded, and then back at Lucius.
"Oh, uh...I-I'm a healer. I'm pretty good with mixing medicines, and cooking, I guess." Lucius smiled, crossing his arms on the table in front of him.
"I hear Madame Pomfrey down in the hospital is in need of a new assistant. Perhaps Draco can take you by later so you can talk to her." Harry gaped, eyes growing wide, before nodding and looking back down at his hands.
"Yes sir."
A song started in the background, and Narcissa stood up, holding out a hand for her husband.
"Let's go dance, dear." Lucius pushed back his chair, brushing any wrinkles out of his coat as he stood up and took her hand, leading her out to the dance floor.
Draco watched them silently for a few minutes before turning to Harry.
"I'm sorry Harry. About Priscilla and my mother."
"'S okay, Draco. I know it's not your fault." The blonde took the younger boys hand, kissing the back lightly.
"Ron's standing right behind you. Why don't you invite him to sit with us?" Harry bolted up, swinging around to face the redhead and motioning to the chair next to him. Ron smiled, plopping into the chair and clapping Harry on the shoulder.
"Long time no see, mate."
"Yeah. Sorry 'bout that, Ron."
"It's only been two days." Draco pointed out, looking at Harry with confused silver eyes.
"Well, we used to see each other every day." Ron informed him. Draco nodded, turning to face the front again.
"I see."
The blonde drifted off as he let the two catch up. Thoughts of the upcoming war and where Harry would be during it swirling around his head. He shook them away almost as soon as he'd thought them. There would be time to plan for that in the future. They had their whole lives together.
A commotion on the dance floor caught Draco's attention, and he caught sight of the manor guards talking hurriedly to his father, who wasted no time in sweeping back to the table.
"Draco, Voldemort has been spotted close-by. We need to leave, immediately."
Or maybe not.
