His foot tapped on the beautiful mosaic glass. He was more than prepared to catch himself if he slipped on the perfectly unmarked ice. To his surprise his feet found purchase, no different than the cold marble flooring of his own dining room.
More out of habit than anything he offered his hand to help Hermione down. Her thick white fur coat made it awkward and difficult to exit the sleigh. As she stepped down on the ice next to him he turned his focus to the massive ornate scene before him. Small pixies giggled as they hung in air, holding bells and evergreen garlands. Their path was guided by the scented ropes directing them directly to the head of the table.
As they arrived he bowed out of habit, surprised to find Hermione performing a passable curtsey.
"Rise mortals." Now that he was closer the queen was breathtakingly beautiful. She had a soft angled face with mysterious storm cloud eyes that mirrored his own. However, where his eyes were merely gray hers were silver. The silver of the moon. The silver of a freshly strung bow. The silver of forbidden mercury that begged-
He shook his head willing his mind to clear. The fae had magic and their galmores were both enticing and deadly. They held the oldest and most powerful magic in the world, a fact that Draco would do well not to forget. If they wished him dead it wouldn't take them any more effort than to breathe. He rose from his bow to a hearty chuckle.
"So he had some backbone." The king's voice was thick and rich. Hermione was shaking off a similar but less pronounced glassy look and smiled cordially.
"Hello Your Majesties."
"It has been a moment Dear One." The queen smiled. Hermione nodded carefully and Draco resisted the urge to snort. A moment to the fae could be years to humans.
"What have you brought to my table?" It was a demand not a question. He remained calm thinking of the dragonskin cloak in his pocket. Would that be a suitable enough offering to keep their heads? Would they see the death of a dragon as an affront? He really wished he had learned more about the old ones at some point.
To his surprise Hermione reached into her endless bag and pulled out a whole cake. It was topped with whipped cream and bright out of season strawberries crowned its rim. It looked absolutely delicious but he doubted it would be worth a glance let alone their lives. Then again, Hermione seemed to have the oddest collection of friends.
Regardless the king smiled and held out his hand. With aching carefulness Hermione placed the cake on his open palm, careful not to let her skin brush his. Her head lowered and she drifted back to Draco's side as the king gazed approvingly.
"The fruit of spring and dough from a warmed fire."He hummed thoughtfully. "A rare treat. You may join my table. Be as if we are all the same."
Draco let out a sigh of relief at the acceptance. Hermione bobbed a short curtsy again before turning towards the opposite end of the table. "Thank you, Your Grace."
"Ah." The queen froze her with a simple word. Her eyes bored into Draco like she could freeze him solid where he stood. Hell she probably could. "Not today, Dear One. You shall sit with my family tonight."
Hermione turned her eyes downcast and curtsied deeply. Draco followed only seconds behind, not sure what exactly was happening. It was merely a moment, less than a blink. Suddenly the queen was standing in front of Hermione, tipping her head up. Draco couldn't suppress the quiet swallow from his throat. Looking amused, the queen eyed him thoughtfully.
"Your meekness is worthy, but distasteful. Cease." Hermione unfolded and simply nodded her head slowly. "Of course Your Grace."
They were guided, much to his horror, to the left of the queen. The two elves occupying the chairs vanished instantly, leaving glittering crystal chairs empty. He pulled back Hermione's first, placing her closer to the queen. She took his hand as he guided her into a graceful position before joining her on the left.
These were wholly unlike any elves he was used to. The house elves had split off from their natural line millennia ago. The story went that it had something to do with a love struck fae prince and a common witch. Add in a healthy dose of betrayal and you ended up with a cursed fate. It was apparent the elves had gotten the worse end of the bargain.
He could barely maintain an upright position with the magic floating around so thick in the air it felt as if he couldn't breathe. He could have dinner with the fairies. He had broken bread with the Dark Lord. Comparatively this was… a whole lot worse. He was exactly sure how he planned to choke down the meal.
With a wave of his hand the table was silenced as the king's voice rang out. "Eat and be merry, as this moon dies we will live."
As if he had slipped into another party, cries and laughter filled the air. The food in front of them portioned itself onto their plates as their goblets filled with deep ruby wine. He stared at the enticing food in front of him, his mouth watering. But he knew, hell even the muggles knew, you never take food from the fae or you won't be going home.
A gentle nudge against his side nearly caused him to flip his tray. Hermione was looking kindly at him, her fork filled with some sort of cheese and green jelly. She smiled and took a bite. His panic slowly wore away as she took another, not jumping into an endless dance or eating herself into gluttony. He took a bite of the potatoes. Marveling in their flavor and lightness in spite of the cold. The meat was all raw so he thought it best be left alone and focused on the more palatable parts of his plate.
"So who have you brought, Dear One?" The queen questioned warmly matching the party around her. "He looks so like us."
"This is Draco." Hermione responded politely in a noticeably proper way. Something told him things weren't going according to plan.
"Tell me Draco. Do you know your parents?" The queen questioned as he sipped his mulled wine. With careful swallows he nodded cordially.
"I do, Your Majesty. My mother is Narcissa Black and my father was Lucius Malfoy."
"Are you certain, child?" She crooned. It sounded like the winter wind, blowing softly in the hills. "These names mean nothing to me but your magic calls to me. We have been known to leave changelings in the past."
"I think…" Her skin was so creamy, so soft. It was like the very liquid from a star falling to earth. Its luminescence-. He coughed out of his reviliry. "Pardon me."
"Darling. You are scaring the poor mortal." The king chuckled from beside her. The queen simply smiled, falling back and letting her glamore fall.
"Unfortunately, I have met Draco's family. He is certainly their get." Hermione smiled herself taking a prim bite of potato.
He stabbed at a weird berry sauce and was unable to help himself. "That sounded like an insult."
"It is." The directness was enough to make him choke much to the amusement of the royal couple. And the pair of young elves right across from him which until now he had not noticed.
"My daughters. Elva and Elia." The two twins smiled in an alluring way. Well, it may have been alluring if they didn't look young enough to be his daughters. If witches he would have put them at eight maybe nine. As elves they probably were old enough to be his mother.
"Hello. It is lovely to meet such beautiful young princesses. The world is blessed by not one but two of you." He responded, figuring it was better to over compliment than under. He was rewarded with a tittering as the girls clung close together holding conjoined hands to hide behind.
"You must forgive them." The queen responded with a glance that bordered on amused. "They are young yet and have not learned the meritlessness of human words."
"They will in time." Hermione responded muffling her cry as he elbowed her.
As time moved on, they settled into a cordial sort of meal with undertones of humor. Draco couldn't help but compare it to being at one of his mother's dinners with her horrid friends and their somewhat amusing children. The adults would speak cruelly all night as the children took shots at word play and subtlety. Afterwards his mother would chastise or commend him depending on how obvious he was. His heart burned in his chest for the first time that night. An act that was apparently quite noticeable on his face.
"Young One." The queen stated as she and the family split their cake. "What troubles you on this night of rebirth?"
"Nothing of consequence." He responded shrugging the thoughts of his mother away.
"I would take whatever ails you. You just need say the word." Hermione made a small noise in her throat that the queen ignored. He considered her offer, it would be nice to never have to worry about his mother again. She was taken care of and it's not like she knew he visited. Elves were amazing with that sort of memory magic. They could take it all, every memory of pain, every fight, every mistake, every-
A hard pinch on his leg was enough to draw him out of it. He shot a dark look at Hermione as she smiled softly into her cream pudding.
"No thank you, Your Highness." She nodded back as the king laughed.
"Humans. So attached to the little time you have." They watched the dancers as they sprung through after dinner, delighting the children. In between songs Draco cast various colorful spells and told them stories of his life, their curious minds constantly questioning him.
"I don't understand. How can one submerge themselves in water? You have a river in your home?" Evla (he thought) questioned as he was regaling them with a memory of a Grecian bath.
"It is more of a pond really."
"It doesn't freeze through?" Elia tilted her head at the same time her twin did. While Fred and George were similar enough for their twinship to be annoying these two were just out right uncanny.
"No it's warm. It's heated water." They gasped and tittered amongst themselves. He turned to Hermione who simply mouthed "ice fairies" and looked at him like he was stupid.
"Do you bathe together?" One of them asked from behind their hands.
"Well humans used to. It used to be a whole social thing." He responded factually trying to dig up memories of the tour. He and the boys had had quite a bit of wine at that point so it was getting muddled.
"Nooooo." The other one remarked as their eyes sparkled. "Do you and Dear One bathe together?"
Hermione's eyes shot wide as the queen, remarkably like her daughters, covered her mouth delicately. The girls sensing the reaction pushed further.
"I think they would like that."
"I do too. It would be so warm."
"He would have to hold her close though, the ponds don't sound that big."
"I don't think they wear clothes. They would get wet. You don't wear clothes when you bathe with Dear One do you?" They smiled angelically at him and he had to resist the urge to scowl.
"I bathe alone and you would be correct we don't wear clothes." Hermione stated. The twins frowned at the lack of reaction from her and dropped below the table and wandered off without a word.
"You'll have to forgive them." The king responded warmly as his eyes followed the twins. "They are young yet and don't know the ways of others."
"Not that different from any other child." Draco mused to the air as they huddled together shooting glances his way. He felt like something distinctly unpleasant was in store. Fickle creatures.
"I think they might like you." The king offered. "I wish I could freeze you until they are old enough to keep you as a gift."
It was Hermione's turn to chuckle as he felt his cheeks flush.
"My King, we don't take humans anymore remember." The queen chided lightly, but did not disagree.
"I know, I know. But if he were to volunteer. It would only be for a few hundred years."
"I would politely decline your offer." Draco responded before they started planning what color of paper to wrap him in.
Sometime later the dancing began. Draco gave a go of it, turning to Hermione. He so generously offered his hand and was mildly offended at her raised eyebrow. Hermione took it nonetheless and let him guide her to the ice rink turned ballroom floor. She made a right mess of it stepping on his toes and tripping over herself. The fae demonstrated great amusement watching them and well after she had unintentionally produced a floor show he had multiple offers of partners. He wondered if compared to elves all humans were graceless and clumsy.
After the twins appeared and claimed Draco as their own he took turns spinning them around as they stood on his feet. He cast a variety of fire spells to flip around them at the safe distance, much to their delight. When they had finished a variety of fae women requested his skills, mostly to touch his skin and squeal at its warmth. He kept an eye on Hermione as the twins set upon her. Whatever they were talking about had her revolving between emotions of humor and offense.
When he finally joined her he was out of breath and looked more than a bit disheveled. His warm coat had been tossed aside and his skin steamed as it hit the frigid air.
"Having fun?" She asked smugly as a small group of males glanced over at them before muttering. He had seen multiple try to build up the courage to approach her but so far none had made it more than halfway across the floor. They probably feared for their toes.
"Surprisingly. Those girls are worse than the Weasley twins." Hermione's face twitched before returning to her placid expression. "I see where you get your delusions of grandeur when it comes to parties. It is wholly unlike anything I have ever seen."
He watched as the king and queen danced, an aurora jumping into the air above them. As if the sky itself was pleased by their performance. She didn't respond as they rested surrounded by more magic and beauty that many wizards would ever see in their entire lives.
"Thank you." He managed to make it actually sound genuine. It was, it was just not exactly natural for them, to have genuine words.
"Whatever for? The food was awful." Hermione questioned lightly as lights reflected in her eyes, a riot of color in the darkness.
"Bringing me here. You didn't have to do that."
"It was nothing." She waved dismissively.
"It was kind." He corrected. He placed a hand softly on her thigh, watching her eyes widen slightly in surprise. A light flush coated her cheeks, and he couldn't help but be pleased. "So thank you."
"W-well…. It's what any decent human would do." She responded back with what he was sure was supposed to be an air of indifference. He found it to be immensely charming befuddlement instead.
"I tried to attack you. You barely even yelled at me."
"I have spent my whole life dealing with men who screamed when they were angry." She huffed and Draco immediately regretted pushing her. "Yelling at them does nothing but make more noise. It's not healthy for anyone."
"I know. My father always told me I should be more reserved." He mused watching the shifting color of the auroras as the king swung the queen up into the air. The colors lept in joy and the wind swirled around them in a flurry. Compared to them, humans were wretched clumsy monkeys. "He may have been wrong about a lot of things, the bastard. But maybe not that one."
"Reserved isn't necessarily good." Hermione responded, also watching the couple with a light smile. "Look at them. They smile, they love. It's obvious to everyone who sees it. Maybe the reason you react so violently is because you never know how to show anything else."
His heart warmed as she watched the lights flash red in her eyes. The amber brown mixed with the flame, reminding him of the burn of fire whiskey and courage it imposed. He should tell her now, before he lost his nerve. Just for this moment, surrounded by magic so pure and natural he felt like he could tell her anything.
"Hermione. About Blaise-" Instinct alone told him to throw up his shields mere moments before Hermione's own came up. A small flash of pink shot into her mouth while its double hit his shield at a dead stop, dropping a small projectile into his lap.
"Granger, are you alright?" He questioned as his eyes located a twin flash of white and silver. A maniacal gleam flickered in their eyes before the girls bounded away. Hermione began to cough.
"Ugh fine, just something in my throat." As she gathered herself Draco felt around for the small vibrant red berry that was fired at him. He held it up as it glistened rainbow in the light, a fine coating of peralesent dust coating it. A pomegranate seed… coated in pearl dust. He swore as his brain caught up recognizing the two main ingredients of love potions.
"We're leaving. Now." He pulled her up roughly, grabbing his coat and dragging her toward the sled.
"Leaving but that would be so ru-" She cut herself off as she stared at him. Her offense melted away and her sharp eyes faded. A goofy grin twitched up at the corners of her mouth. "Okay."
He shuffled away trying to avoid anyone's notice. Unfortunately, using whatever magic she had before, the queen appeared directly in front of them looking deeply offended. It was only after she met Hermione's eyes that she glanced off to the left. Draco assumed she caught sigh of the twins from the resulting frown.
"Go quickly." She stated sweeping off past them. The air she left behind was almost enough to make Draco drop the witch next to him and drift off into the forest forever. With a violent shake of his head he spotted their exit.
He hauled Hermione into the sleigh, kicking it into gear before he was fully seated. He ensured it was set to return before sloughing off their coats. Hermione sighing as his hand brushed against her skin. Grabbing her arm he apparated to the shop. It had been further than he thought and the bolus of magic resulted in a blossoming headache. Thankfully the shop was dark as he marched the besotted girl ahead of him.
"You're pretty." He had no idea what to do with her other than push her through the mirror. There were antidotes to love potions but they were specialized to the different make ups. For something so simple to have worked the girls must have used their own ancient brand of magic. Bad, very bad. He stepped through the mirror himself and bumped into a swaying witch in a dark closet.
"Hi." She giggled when he growled and pushed past her, slamming open the door with a crack. She followed behind him slowly.
"Accio love potion books." He tried hoping her library would provide. Unfortunately it was too general and a stack of 87 books flew at him.
"You're so good at magic." Hermione sighed lacing her arms around his waist.
"No. Salazar's spawn! Accio love potion cure books." Less but he still didn't have time to look through 26 books. Growling he pulled her towards the floo, he knew where it was in his library.
As they stepped into his office Hermione trailed behind him giggling as she did so. She was staring deeply at their held hands and he threw hers away in disgust. Calling the book down he flipped to the first page in the section.
History of Love Potions.
While Laverne de Montomorcy is known for the creation of amortentia, love potions have existed since long before that. It is thought that the first love potions came to us from the Fae. These potions were given to wayward witches and wizards in order to keep them permanently entranced during their stay. Prolonged exposure seemed to do no harm as when the wizards were returned they reverted to their normal selves in a matter of hours.
He groaned. He was hoping for an antidote not the advice to sleep it off. Hermione watched him lazily from across his desk. At least it was less aggressive than the more refined potions. He assumed it had something to do with the innocence of the magic cast by the bedamned twins.
"Okay you stay here. I am going to go to the other room." Hermione nodded following him to the door. "No. You stay. Here. In this room."
She nodded again as he gently shut the door in her face. He clamped it with the heaviest locking charms he knew as he heard her try the knob. Breathing out a deep sigh of relief he wandered over to the couch and collapsed. It appeared that Pinky had cleaned up the living room while he was gone. It was hard to believe he had wreaked it just this morning. It had been a long day. And absolutely magical one, even considering that he could have died. At least he would get to tease Hermione about this tomorrow.
He closed his eyes unsure if he could make it down the hall to his bed anyway. He yelped as a heavy pressure settled on his chest along with a warm tingle and the scent of cinnamon. His eyes opened to a thick of curls brushing against his nose. He glanced to the door of his study, just to see it opened wide. Stupid brightest witch of her age bullshite.
"Granger. Get off of me." He commanded hoping she was love-struck enough to listen. His general pushing was mirrored by his own chest lifting slightly. A sticking charm then.
"Hmmmm cozy." She nuzzled deeper into his chest. Trying to finagle his way to his pocket for his wand was hopeless. It was laying on the coffee table just out of reach and he didn't think she'd exactly be amenable to moving. He groaned.
"Sleepy." Came the muttered reply.
"No." He balked. "Absolutely not. You are not sleeping here and you are not sleeping on me. Off leech."
He pushed more violently only to be lifted and subsequently slammed back into the couch under both of their weights.
"So strong." The witch who had stuck herself to his chest purred.
"Yes yes. I am strong. And once you sober up you are going to see how strong my gut-slam jinx is. Pinky!" He cried summoning the elf with a crack. If she had any judgements she kept them to herself.
"Master."
"Unstick us." He stated spitting out a stray hair that had floated into his mouth. Pinky grimaced. "What is it?"
"Pinky cannot unstick master." She squeeked.
"What?!" He all but roared as both girls cried out at the force. The larger one for the sake of her ears the smaller one with a cringe.
"It's not Pinky's fault sir. It's the magic!"
"What's wrong with the bloody magic?" He hissed as Hermione shuffled a bit too close to his throat for comfort, toying with the hairs at the back of his neck.
"It's the magic of the Old Ones. Pinky cannot interfere with the Old Ones." She looked like she was expecting him to kick her. And as he was currently he wanted to. He would have to dwell on the information later.
"Fine. Give me my wand." He was not looking forward to trying to overpower Hermione's magic. She was a remarkably talented witch and with how fast she had disassembled his locking charms this was going to take more energy than he had.
"Pinky is sorry master." She stepped back. "Pinky cannot interfere at all. Pinky is so sorry!"
With a wail she was gone, clearly running from his reaction. His rage at the situation boiled. He attempted a wandless finite, failing miserably.
"Your magic is so strong. Stronger than Ron's or Harry's." She nodded her head contentedly before burying her face in his neck. Her small breaths puffed against his skin. He paused, unable to stop himself from preening.
"Well of course I am. Those idiots can barely keep themselves standing."
"I like strong. We'll sleep here." As she settled down her body melted over his. He tried his best to shift around hoping she would get uncomfortable and give up. Before long her breathing slowed to a crawl and he knew she was asleep.
"Oh this went to hell with a Hufflepuff really fast." He sighed trying unsuccessfully to rouse her. He assessed his options. Continue to struggle and fail. Plead or threaten Pinky again and fail. Try to stand against her weight and fall forward and fail in a much more compromising position. Or to just settle and let whatever magic was on her run its course, it's not like there was anyone around to see it. Blaise and Theo knew better than to visit on a Sunday night.
Seeing that the last option was really the end results of all of the previous ones he sighed, shuffling under the snoozing witch as he adjusted himself. He would wake up when his wand went off for work and would skip the morning shower so he could properly taunt Hermione. Yes, it was an acceptable plan.
Slinging his arm from under her waist to rest on her back he finally found a serviceable position. It was actually quite comfortable and her hair, while annoying drifting across his face, still smelled of the snow and mountains.
"Night Granger. You'll be getting an earful come morning." He let the exhaustion overtake him as he slipped into a dreamless sleep. When Pinky popped in to check on them later, there was an almost pleasant smile on his face.
World Building with Om
House Elf Origins
Once upon a time, a Fae prince saw a mortal witch picking berries in the woods. He desired her and approached her as a human hoping to steal her away. Over time they fell in love in spite of their differences. After much deliberation he revealed himself to her, knowing it may drive her away. She simply told him she would love him anyway, for as long as they would live. Happily they stole away to live in his palace, avoiding the danger of the mortal realm. After a time she grew lonely for her friends and family. Much against the wishes of his own parents the prince and witch disappeared to live as humans. Unfortunately, the brothers of the witch had discovered what had befallen her. Fearing the legendary love potions of the fae they set upon the prince, killing him in hopes it would break the spell. As he lay dying he cursed the family line to years of misery and servitude for stealing him away from his love. What he did not know was the the witch was pregnant, continuing the line with him cursing his own children to populate the earth as servants to the very people he so despised.