So yay for the review-reply thingy working again! Only now I got confused at to who I had replied to and who not? So sorry if I didn't reply, but thanks for your review anyway :-)
Thanks for a very speedy beta dear Ardchoile x
xxx
Harry slowly blinked himself into consciousness. He stretched luxuriously, feeling quite pleased with himself. It took him a minute to remember why.
Oh… Draco… They'd… Harry flushed a bright red. Oh yes they had. Now that he was fully awake, the memories came back to him with perfect clarity. He didn't need the slight pain in his muscles or the dull ache… down there, to remind him. Harry's flush intensified. He stole a quick glance at the pillow next to him.
Empty. Harry bit his lip in confusion. Where was Draco? Squinting round the room it was clear, even without the aid of his glasses, that Harry was quite alone. He did spot said glasses though, placed neatly on the nightstand right next to his wand. Putting them on, Harry checked the room one last time, just to be sure. No sign of Draco. What was he supposed to make of that?
Clothes. He would need some clothes first. No wait, shower, then clothes, Harry amended as he assessed last night's damage with a grimace. Wow, he could flush even deeper…. Who knew? Harry thought wryly. Spotting his clothes placed neatly on the chair next to the bed, Harry grabbed them and slipped through the ebony door. He glanced at the Muggle alarm clock in passing. Fuck. That couldn't be right, could it? He quickly cast a tempus charm to check. Half twelve already… How on earth had that happened? At least it explained one thing. Draco wasn't here because he was with Hermione and Luc, meeting Parkinson and Zabini. Like Harry was supposed to be himself. Shit.
Harry rushed through his shower, threw on jeans, a shirt and some shoes. He decided not to even bother with his hair today and just hurled himself out the door. Now where could they be? Harry was about to go and open doors randomly when he came to a sudden halt. Wait. There was a smarter way of doing this.
'Krinkey?' Harry tried, silently congratulating himself as he heard the distinctive pop of the ancient House Elf apparating.
'Yes Mister Potter Sir?' the dignified House Elf enquired, bowing low.
'Er… I was wondering where Draco was?' Harry asked semi-casually.
'Master Draco is being up for hours. Master Draco always is being up at a timely hour,' the House Elf muttered with clear disapproval of Harry's own lateness. Obviously Krinkey didn't approve of things as decadent as sleeping in. Harry couldn't help but wonder what the proper little House Elf would make of the activities Harry and "Master Draco" had been engaged in prior to the oversleeping thing.
'… with Master Draco's friends. They is being in the gardens now,' Krinkey finished his little speech.
'Draco's in the gardens with Parkinson and Zabini?' Harry checked, having missed part of the Elf's words. 'Are Hermione and Luc with him?'
Krinkey nodded primly.
'Right. Thank you Krinkey,' Harry said, already moving towards the gardens.
As Harry stepped outside, he couldn't help but admire the beautiful scenery. There was the main garden, so large it was more like a little park, that was beautifully kept. But it were the smaller, secluded areas, that really grabbed Harry's attention. They looked like they could have modelled for an impressionist painting from every were about 5 of them, each with a very different feel to them but all abundantly full of flowers in bloom.
The first secluded garden Harry entered was filled with only white flowers. Harry inhaled their sweet aroma as he looked at the wooden bench underneath the ancient oak tree in the middle of the garden and smiled. He could feel himself relax already, the atmosphere of the place too tranquil to remain tense. As there was no sign of Draco or anyone else for that matter, Harry stepped through an archway leading into the next garden. This one was filled with herbs, vegetables and what Harry recognised as plants that were used for most common potions.
Harry looked up at the faint sound of voices, coming from behind the west wall. He hastily made his way to the door that already stood ajar and stepped into a garden that could only be described as brimful of colour. There were pinks, reds, violets, yellows… Basically every colour a flower could come in. And right smack damn in the middle of all that colourful abundance was Draco… Well, Draco and the rest of them of course. They were sitting on a huge blanket, covering the grass underneath. The Elf Harry remembered being called Floppy, Flopsey? Something like that, was setting up plates, napkins, glasses and such as little Poppin hovered over a picnic basket, overstuffed with all kinds of delicious looking foods.
Harry couldn't take his eyes off Draco. The blonde looked… stunning. He was wearing a pair of simple black trousers and a soft grey long sleeved shirt. Draco was the first of the group to notice Harry. He looked up and fixed Harry with clouded grey eyes that betrayed nothing and made Harry's insides squirm uncomfortably.
'Potter. Finally saw fit to join us, did you?'
Harry tore his eyes away from hypnotising grey ones, and focussed on a smirking Parkinson instead.
'Hello Pansy. Blaise,' Harry greeted them, nodding a quick hello to Luc and Hermione.
A flicker of surprise showed in almost black eyes, but was quickly covered by a warm smile.
'Harry. Had a good rest did you?' Blaise answered with a grin.
'You must have been exhausted Harry,' Hermione said. 'I went up to fetch you when you didn't show up for breakfast, but you didn't answer. Luc and me knocked and called several times, but there was no response. Finally, Draco here came up and told us to just let you sleep. Are you feeling better now Harry?'
'Er… yes, much better, thank you. Sorry for being so late,' Harry answered.
'That's alright,' Luc said. 'You must have needed it'.
Harry startled. Did Luc… know? His heart pounded in his chest as he searched his friend's face for any signs. No, Harry decided with a sigh of relief. No, I don't think so. Not yet anyway…
Harry felt a change of subject was overdue.
'So… Pansy, Blaise, what have you been up to since Hogwarts?' he inquired casually.
xxx
Harry didn't get a chance to speak to Draco privately until they had both retired to their respective rooms. He'd been standing in front of the ebony door for what felt like hours, shuffling his feet and anxiously biting his lip. He really wanted to talk to Draco, he did… But what was he going to say? All day, Draco and he had exchanged secret glances that Harry found impossible to read.
Draco had revealed nothing. The incessant taunting hadn't made a comeback, thank Merlin. Draco had been perfectly civil, his face schooled into a neutral expression at all times. He didn't seem angry, or ashamed or happy… He didn't seem much of anything really.
Draco had been animated enough while talking to Pansy and Blaise. He'd been courteous and warm to the Bagnolds, who it turned out was the grandson of a previous Minister of Magic, and his wife and children. In fact, Draco had been very kind to most of the purebloods that visited the Manor today, except for the Vablatskys and the Stroulgers, who still seemed to foolishly hold on to their archaic pureblood supremacy beliefs. They had looked to Draco, obviously expecting to find a kindred spirit there, but were soon forced to realise their mistake. The air turned decidedly frosty after that. Stubbornly refusing the offer of food or clothing, they left with their noses held high.
'Let them go. Good riddance,' Draco had said vehemently as Hermione made to call them back.
They'd all spend the evening strategising for Harry and Luc's meeting with the Bald Eagle Society the next day. Harry felt he was prepared as well as could be. Both Hermione and Luc had made many helpful suggestions, but Draco had remained unusually quiet, only making the odd comment or two.
And now here he was, standing before that wretched ebony door. Squaring his shoulders, Harry made up his mind and knocked. There was no response. Harry was about to knock again, when the door suddenly opened to reveal a wary looking Draco on the other side.
'Harry,' he said. 'Come in'. Draco turned, walked back into the room and flopped onto the bed. Lying on his back, still fully clothed, Draco stared at the ceiling.
Unsure if he should join Draco on the bed, Harry dragged over a chair instead and sat down. Neither spoke for quite a while.
Draco sighed and half raised himself, leaning on his elbows.
'What is it you want Harry?' he asked quietly.
Harry looked at him confusion.
'What do you mean what do I want? Don't you think… we should, you know… talk?' Harry asked cautiously. After a little think he added: 'About what happened. Last night I mean?'
'I suppose,' Draco conceded.
'Do you regret what happened?' Harry asked, so soft it was almost a whisper. God he could kick himself for asking that. He sounded pathetically insecure and knew it.
'No,' Draco admitted after a long pause. 'Do you?'
It was the small quiver of insecurity in Draco's eyes more than his tense answer that made hope surge up in Harry's chest.
'Well?' Draco asked, alerting Harry to the fact that he hadn't made an answer yet.
'Sorry… No. I don't. Not at all,' Harry was quick to reassure him.
The small smile curving Draco's lips warmed Harry's heart. Draco didn't regret it. He didn't. Harry's head was reeling with that knowledge, which almost led him to miss Draco's next words.
'You should probably read that,' Draco said carefully, waving his hand in the general direction of the nightstand. The very same one Harry had found his glasses and wand on earlier today. Now there was an envelop lying on top of it. Extending a hand, Harry took it and shook the piece of parchment into his hand. He looked back at the bed and saw that Draco had flopped down on his back again and was decidedly not looking at Harry.
Draco closed his eyes and said softly: 'Just read it Harry'.
No longer hesitant, Harry unfolded the parchment and started reading.
My dearest Draco,
This letter was written in hopes that one day you would come looking for it. It pleases me more than I can say to see that apparently, you have.
I feel the end nearing. I am not sad for that, for I have lived a full life. I loved your Grandmother and your Father very much. He has made a wise choice in your Mother. Unfortunately that wisdom seems to have left him in recent years.
Your Father has made some unfortunate decisions which I am afraid you will have to suffer the consequences of. I am very sorry for that... I would give anything to change things, but the simple fact is that I am an old man and have run out of time.
Even now, as little as you are, you are strong dearest Draco. I have every faith that you can survive anything that is yet to come. I know you will grow up to be a fine, wonderful young man, you already show every sign of it.
What I want for you, more than anything else, is a life and family of your own. The fact that you have come to find this letter, tells me that the "Door of Emmeline" has reappeared. It was named after one of your ancestors, the great Emmeline Malfoy, who was the first member of the Malfoy family the door appeared to back in the 18th century. It hasn't appeared for every member of the family mind you, but when it has, it has always brought great joy and happiness. It has deeply connected future husbands and wives, parent and child, or like with us, Grandfather and Grandson.
I will tell you only this: Whomever you might find on the other end of the "Door of Emmeline", know that they will be or become an important part of your life, just as you have been in mine. Love them, my dearest Draco, I promise you that you will not regret it.
With love,
Abraxus Malfoy
Harry stared at the words in front of them, not sure what to make of them, not daring to hope that… In the end, he scrambled up enough courage to look up, only to find Draco looking back at him with intense, silver eyes.
'What do you think it means?' Harry finally asked quietly.
Draco shrugged.
'I mean,' Harry pressed on, 'obviously we aren't related, are we. So does that mean…'
Draco just looked at him, not saying a word.
Harry didn't seem able to shut himself up. He winced at his own inane babbling as he continued blindly: 'It could mean many things I suppose, although I can't think of any just now… So maybe…'
Draco sighed heavily and fixed Harry with a stern glare.
'Harry, do be quiet. You talk too much, did you know that?'
The corners of Draco's mouth twitched suspiciously as he continued: 'Now, why don't you come over here for a minute'.
Draco patted the bed invitingly and quirked an eyebrow in question.
Harry's heartbeat sped up as Draco's mouth curled up in a genuine smile, warming the grey of his eyes in a breathtaking way. Not wanting to give the blonde a chance to change his mind, Harry quickly got up and made to climb on the bed.
Draco stopped him by raising a commanding hand.
'Not so fast. Shoes on the bed are a big no no. Off please!' he demanded.
Harry suppressed a grin and quickly toed off his shoes. But before he could try and join Draco, the blonde stopped him once again.
'On second thought: that shirt looks a bit smudged. Best take that off also. And those jeans… You know what, just take off the lot, just to be on the safe side…,' Draco finished with a smug little smile.
Harry vowed to snog that smile off quick smart. Just as soon as he could get those stubborn jeans off…
xxx
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