The Malfoy Family Code of Conduct

Every little rule a member of the illustrious Malfoy family needs to live by in high society.

Rule Number Twelve: A Malfoy must always be honest even during political or formal situations.

Suggested by: YaoiCookies87

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Draco was nervous and by nervous, he meant terrified. What had he been thinking? Why had he thought garnering Harry's attention through these means was a sound idea? In all honesty it was terrible even though it had worked! Harry and Draco were a couple. It wasn't anything serious but they were together and that was all that mattered in his mind until he realized the consequences of his actions.

He really should have thought about this or even discussed it further with his father before starting this. He absolutely loved it. This relationship with Harry was everything that he had ever dreamed of. He could envision what the remainder of his life would be like with Harry by his side.

But that was the problem. Without the Code, none of this would have occurred. He would still be mourning over the fact he needed to choose someone to spend the remainder of his life with. Harry would never have once crossed his mind for something like that. He wouldn't have even considered it if Harry hadn't asked that one simple question that started this endeavour. Everything he had now was because of the Code and he couldn't help but wonder if the Code was the only reason Harry remained.

Was learning the Code the only thing keeping Harry by his side? After all no one else seemed to believe that their relationship was rather strong. In fact many currently believed that Harry was under some love potion, never mind that it was illegal and he couldn't risk something like that with his father in such a precarious position.

So he'd decided to act upon a rule within the Code,

A Malfoy must always be honest even during political or formal situations.

This was a rather formal situation as his father had begun asking when Draco was going to propose to Harry. It was early in their relationship and yet his mother was truly beginning on planning the basics for their wedding. Harry wouldn't be pleased to hear it when they finally told him that he had little to no choice in the matter because of their traditions but he hoped that he'd accept them nonetheless.

First however he needed to tell Harry the truth and that in itself could possibly be the most difficult thing Draco had ever attempted to do in his life. Yet it had to be done for his peace of mind. If it meant that Harry would leave him after their short time together then so be it but it would still break him to watch his happiness leave like that.

Walking into the Great Hall that morning was torture. Draco had to visibly coax himself every step of the way simply to get to where Harry, Ron and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table. Not many others were awake yet considering it was a Saturday morning but it was still nerve wrecking to have to walk that way.

"Harry, I have to tell you something."

There wasn't even a good morning. It was just out in the open like he wanted it to be, like he needed it to be.

Harry turned towards Draco frowning. Draco hadn't seemed this nervous since he'd asked Harry out on a Hogsmeade weekend. To be honest it was rather scary to see him acting this way. Whatever Draco needed to speak with him bout was obviously very important.

"What is it Draco?" he asked, motioning for him to sit.

Draco took a deep breath. He really needed all the help he could get here and Weasley and Granger staring like that certainly wasn't helping. He didn't want everything to be this out in the open.

"This entire thing… with the code and the rules and the-"

Harry sighed. This wasn't like Draco at all. Taking his hand, Harry commented.

"Draco, you're rambling."

Gulping, Draco nodded. He could do this without stuttering like an idiot. He was only before Harry and his two friends it wasn't like half the world was listening. Once this done his fate, their fate, would be decided and he really needed that peace of mind right now.

"I may have cheated you into this." He admitted.

Harry didn't seem all that surprised. Ron on the other hand, who had been shovelling food into his mouth, let out a loud exclamation. This wasn't going to end well.

"What? Harry is he saying he cheated on you already? Why I ought to-"

A quick kick to the shins had him shutting his mouth rather swiftly. Hermione certainly knew when Ron was getting far out of hand and knew what to do about silencing him. Ron unfortunately never seemed to learn that lesson. He was always jumping in head first and then thinking later when he had all the facts. Ron was definitely a true Gryffindor.

"Ron, be quiet." Harry muttered, glancing at the other tables.

A few people were staring at them. All were obviously curious as to why Draco had already begun cheating on Harry Potter. Yet he knew that wasn't the case. Draco was always cheerful when he was around. Harry had a feeling that Draco couldn't really function when something threw a spanner into the works where they were concerned.

"Hermione, could you…"

Hermione nodded, understanding what Harry needed.

"Of course, Harry. Tell me what happens when you two are done."

With that, Hermione took Ron's arm and dragged him out the door. There was no getting in the way when Hermione was on the war path. She just didn't know when to stop that one. Harry smiled fondly at them before turning his attentions back to Draco. He appeared more relaxed than before but was still frightfully nervous over what he was about to do.

"Now, what is it that we need to tell me Draco?" Harry asked.

He could tell that Draco just wanted this out in the open. No longer did he want to keep whatever it was a secret from him. The sooner that was done, the better Draco would feel.

"I may have cheated you into this relationship." He pronounced slowly.

Harry nodded. That wasn't so hard for Draco but he rather doubted that was the end of it. What else did Draco still have to tell him? Whatever it was, it couldn't be as bad as so of the information he'd been gathering from Dumbledore. That was difficult to take in on any day.

"How so?" he asked since Draco didn't appear to want to continue.

Taking Harry's words as a good thing, he continued.

"Originally, I was meant to be looking for someone as a prospective wife, that day when this all began." He began. "Then when you enquired about the Code I thought that you would be the best candidate for my future marriage. After all you were the one to ask about it and no one else had even bothered. It was almost too good to be true. Then it all started."

Draco paused. He needed to see how Harry was handling this. He needed to know if Harry was about to go off the handle and attack him. However the quick glance that Draco gave him revealed he was sitting their patiently listening to what Draco was saying. This was a further sign of good will so Draco soldiered on.

"The closer I managed to get to you and the more I managed to get to know you the more I felt like I wanted to have you no matter what. So every rule that I picked had something to do with you, with grooming you into the perfect spouse for a Malfoy. Everything that I have done so far is to make you into the perfect husband for me."

Harry smiled. He'd been waiting for that confession for a while now. Draco just didn't have all the courage of a lion. Honestly, he was surprised Draco had managed to get it all out whilst sitting in the Great Hall and contending with eavesdroppers and other disturbances. For that, Harry was rather proud of him.

"Draco, do you think that I would have agreed to go to Hogsmeade with you if I hadn't already guessed all of this?"

Draco's eyes snapped towards Harry. What was it that he was… oh… oh, he couldn't believe this was happening…

"But… how?"

"I did flip through the Malfoy Family Code of Conduct, Draco. I know this is some sort of ritual to see if I'm worthy. Obviously if I've managed to get this far, you've already decided."

Nodding, Draco couldn't help but sigh in relief. He really shouldn't have worried about all of this. Harry was a lot smarter than most let on so he should have guessed that Harry knew however that brought about another question. Why had Harry allowed it to get this far?

"Then what was all of this?" he asked.

Harry smirked.

"This was a test of my own."

Blinking, Draco was bewildered. A test?

"Did I pass?"

"…with flying colours."

Well, that at least was a relief. Now all they needed to do was announce it to everyone and settle a few more personal matters before everything for them was in place. Soon, they would be together for as long as they still wanted each other and both were hoping it would last a lifetime.


People were looking forward to seeing everyone's reaction to Harry without glasses. However you have to remember that this is more of a collection of snippets in a story than an actual story so it wasn't included. Thanks for all the reviews.

~MidnightEmber