I trust that everyone went to see Chamber of Secrets and loved it.   Jason Isaacs was particularly wonderful and I must say, it's no small wonder he loves that stick so much.  I love that stick.

I meant to update this before Chamber of Secrets came out but alas, ff.net was sucking arse.

And for the thanks:

Chibi-Yukito:  HERE'S YOU UPDATE WHEN YOU CAN FIND WHAT GOES ON AT THE MANOR!  I hope you love it.

Kelly:  Lucius is a bitch, isn't he?  You never know if you can trust him (rule of thumb says you can't).  Lee Jordan's commentary is the best part of Quidditch as well.

chrisseee667:  Well here's more to the visit to the manor.  Enjoy.

SkySong32:  Beginning to like Draco?  You didn't like him before?  *sob*  My poor Draco.  *grin*  I'm glad you like the story and I hope this chapter does a little to satiate you.

SparkySparkles:  If I told you, I'd have to kill you and that would be messy.

SkyChief:  Draco's been so miserable through this entire story (and truth be told, most of my stories) so I had to make him happy sometime.  The way I wrote the manor was how I pictured it so I'm glad you thought it was apt.

Anyone else, thank you for reading.  I appreciate it because these comments make my day.

DISCLAIMER: I am not JK Rowling and the world of Harry Potter does not belong to me. I wish it did, but it doesn't. I am making no money off this trifle of a story.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Entering a large dining room, Harry followed Draco to the end of a long table.  Heavy draperies hung over the windows in here as well and Harry had yet to see a carpet in the entire manor thus far.  Every room was in grey, black, and dull shades of green.  From what Harry had known of Draco before, he wouldn't have been surprised to see he lived in a place like this but Harry, having now dated Draco for months, couldn't see him spending his holidays here, much less growing up here.

"Hello, Harry," Narcissa spoke, stiffly.  "So its true about you and Draco then?  I thought it would just be a nasty little rumor."  She sniffed, her nose scrunching to its usual position as if something smelled foul.  "Draco, why didn't you tell us you were a queer?"

Harry wanted to gape, could see himself doing so in his head, but his mouth seemed to stay shut on its own accord and Harry figured that was for the best.  Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Draco cower under the eyes of his parents set on him and waiting for an explanation.  Draco shifted in his seat, squared his shoulder and for a moment, Harry could've sworn Draco's lower lip trembled.

"Well?" snapped Lucius and Draco jumped, his mouth set tight.  "Answer your mother, boy.  She didn't ask you a question for you to sit there like a brainless git.  Speaking of which, how are your marks?"

Draco visibly swallowed and his eyes remained downcast.  "Which question should I answer first?" Draco finally asked, his voice quivering and Harry could practically see Draco fighting with himself, trying to steady his voice and keep it under control.

"Mine," Lucius answered.  "Is that mudblood girl still surpassing you?"

Sneaking a glance at Harry, Draco's head dropped even further and he nodded.  Harry could tell Draco was embarrassed and Harry didn't know whether it was from his poor marks of his father's ever so eloquent choice of words.  "Yes," he admitted, hushed.  "I've been having a very hard time this year but I'm studying and asking for help."

"Speak up, boy," instructed Lucius.  "If you're going to do poorly, you'll have to be prepared to admit it.  Imagine how embarrassed and disappointed I was when you weren't made a prefect.  You're falling behind, boy.  And that's not even to mention my humiliation and anger when I found out about this sordid love affair.  Do you know how that made me look to no even know what was going on in my own son's life?"

"When did this happen, Draco?" Narcissa demanded.  Harry looked down at his plate and began to pick at his chicken.

"I don't know," Draco replied, holding his head.  "I've liked him for awhile.  We got together a few weeks before Christmas."

"Is that why you asked to say for Christmas?" Lucius snapped, eyes blazing.  Draco looked like he wanted to curl up right there and die.

"Yes, but I wasn't lying.  I really was falling behind in Potions and I did work with Professor Snape over the holiday."  Harry didn't think he had ever heard Draco sound so scared. "I thought you said you were proud of me."

Lucius's eyes flickered.  "I am," he said, softer than before.  "I just want what's best for you and I'm proud that you've taken the initiative to make your own decisions."  He glanced at Narcissa before turning back to Draco.  "You can't be a little boy forever.  You're sixteen years old and it's about time you started to act like it."

"I know," Draco answered, still strained.

"And you need to improve those marks.  Your O.W.L.s are coming up and I can't have you getting beaten by that mudblood-"

"Her name is Hermione," Draco shouted pounding on the table before his already pale face lost any of the color it contained and turned white.  Lucius's eyes were blazing and Draco's mouth was trembling, sound refusing to come out as he searched for words to say.  Harry thought Draco looked a lot like Dobby when saying something he wasn't supposed to.  He half-expected Draco to start pounding his head on the table and cursing himself out.

"Did you say something to me?" Lucius asked, eyes narrowing.  Draco shook his head.  "Really?  I could have sworn you corrected me when I called that filthy girl a mudblood."  Harry could see Draco chomp down on his tongue.  "Did you?"  Draco shook his head again.  "Don't lie to me.  You know how I feel about being lied to."

"I may have said something."

Lucius nodded.  "Need I remind you, boy, that you are to hold your tongue when I am speaking.  And then, you dare to go as far as to correct me."  Shaking his head, Lucius tutted in disapproval.  "You know, this is all your fault, Narcissa.  A boy can only be as good as he's raised.  I told you it would be a mistake, letting him run around calling us mum and dad for as long as we did.  I told you that a boy needs to learn his place with his elders when he's young but you insisted.  I knew he would be a disappointment from the start.  I knew he should have gone to Durmstrang instead of Hogwarts but you kept insisting that he'd grow out of it."

"I know, Lucius," sniffed Narcissa.  "I thought he'd be more like Ares.  How was I supposed to know he was just a bad kid at the core?"

From the corner of his eye, Harry could see Draco's eyes glossing over and face tinge pink.

"I can hear you, you know.  I'm sitting right here."

"And you've interrupted once again," Lucius retorted, clicking his tongue.  "Hold your tongue or I'll be forced to cut it off."

"I won't hold my tongue," Draco shouted, standing up and sending his chair reeling backward.

"You will," Lucius answered, just as angry.  "You will pick up that chair, apologize, and go to your room without another word."  He then turned to Narcissa.  "Look what he's become.  This is what happens when you let a child believe in love for so long."  Lucius turned back to Draco to see tears rolling down his cheeks, the chair still overturned on the floor.  "I told you to pick that up."

"No," Draco replied, shaking his head.

"What?"

"I said no," Draco answered, now laughing.  The smack dealt to Draco's face was deafening.

"Pick it up."

On the side of Draco's face was a deep red print of where Lucius's hand had been but Draco was still laughing and shaking his head.  Harry thought he had gone mad.

"Love is real, father.  Harry's shown me that.  All I ever wanted was your pride, for you to love me, and when you didn't, I thought something was wrong with me but it was you all along.  It was you that there was something wrong with."

"Love isn't real, boy," Lucius bit.

"My name is Draco or has it been so long since you've addressed me to my face that you've forgotten?  I'm surprised you're talking to me at all.  Perhaps you'd like to send a house elf to address me in this matter like you usually do."

"They've brainwashed you at that Hogwarts," Lucius shouted at him, ending Draco's rant.  "Love isn't real.  It doesn't exit and if you think it does, you're only fooling yourself.  I've never loved you and I never will.  And stop that crying.  It makes you look like an idiot.  Ares would've never behaved like this."

"Yes, but he got himself killed, didn't he?" Draco shouted back.  "I suppose that's what happens when your son is supporting Voldemort before he can properly defend himself."

"Ares was a better wizard than you'll ever be.  Ares was everything a Malfoy is supposed to be.  I was proud of him in a way that you'll never achieve.  He was the son we wanted but then he died and we got stuck with you, the second rate child.  Don't think we didn't try to get rid of you.  Ares was enough for us.  Pity they took him and not you."

"I told you we should've taken Aries out with us that night," Narcissa sniffed.  "Maybe then they would've taken Draco as the hostage instead."

Apparently in agreement, Lucius nodded.  "Should've killed him right from the start.  Shame he didn't die when we cast the abortion spell."  Lucius caught sight of Draco's shocked expression and he smirked.  "Ah yes, we haven't told you.  The premature delivery your mother had was a result of an abortion spell.  Unfortunately, you pulled through in the end.  That's why you're so tiny."

Draco shook his head.  "No."

Nodding, Lucius said, "Yes.  The only reason I still deal with you is because you're my son and if you make a fool of yourself, it mars the Malfoy name and, in turn, makes me look bad.  I don't want that, do I?  I've had to bail you out of trouble and make excuses for you more times than I care to think about.  I should think you'd be a little more grateful.  Now go to your room.  I don't want to see you again until you're ready to apologize and you've learned your place."

Rubbing at his eyes, now bloodshot and soaking in tears, Draco turned from his father.  "Come on, Harry," he muttered and stalked out of the dining room.

Harry practically had to run to keep up with Draco and they turned into a new hall.  Draco flung open the doors to a bedroom that looked similar to the one Harry was staying in only he could see Draco's things strewn about in an organized mess.  Draco was chewing on his lips, tears still rolling down his face as he paced the room.  Harry shut the doors behind him and fell back so that he back lay flat against the doors, leaning on them as he watched Draco.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," said Draco, his voice still shaking.  "I've never really gone off on my father like that before.  It was just something about you being there and he called what he have a sordid love affair.  We do not have a sordid love affair.  I love you.  We have so much more than that."  Draco's hands went to his head.  "How long should I wait until I apologize?"

Harry stared.  "You're actually going to apologize?"

Shrugging, Draco answered, "Of course.  I don't want an unpleasant holiday."

"After that?"  Harry walked toward Draco and motioned to the door.  "You'd apologize after all that he's just told you?  Don't you ever get sick of doing things for your father?"  Draco didn't answer.  "Don't you ever think for yourself?"

"No," Draco screamed back before bursting into a fresh batch of tears.  "No, Harry, I don't think for myself.  Everything I do is for my father.  I don't know how to think for myself.  I don't know who Draco is, Harry.  Who's Draco?"

Harry stared at him, speechless, grasping for an answer.  "I-" he stammered, "I don't know.  If you don't know, I can't know."

"Funny," Draco said.  "Most people would say that Draco is a Malfoy.  That's all I am to people.  I'm a Malfoy.  Do you know why I was so angry about not making my house Quidditch team as a first year?"

"You're a spoiled brat who gets everything he wants?"

Draco laughed.  "Close, but no cigar.  Contrary to popular belief, it had nothing to do with you, Harry.  I should've made it.  I'm a great Keeper, Harry.  Not a bad Chaser, either, and I was going for both positions.  Apparently, however, I was vetoed.  I overheard Flint say that they didn't want a Malfoy on their team.  The only reason I made Seeker is because my father bought my position.  I'm an awful Seeker."

"You aren't bad.  I'm just better."

"I don't even like the Snitch, Harry," Draco whined.  "The position bores me.  All you do is look for that ruddy Snitch.  For you, it may be wonderful but I feel like everyone else is having fun and I'm being punished.  I'm going to throw myself off my broomstick if they throw one more golfball at me.  And I swear that Snitch knows I don't like it because it taunts me.  The thing hates me.  Flies right past my face and that bloody Lee Jordan says, 'And the Snitch literally flew right under Malfoy's nose.  Should've been paying more attention to the game than your hair.'  My whole team starts yelling at me.  I'll catch the Snitch and before they can call it, the bloody thing tickles my hand with its wings and I have to let it go.  I can't be Keeper, the position I want and am good at because I'm a Malfoy and I have to be Seeker, a position I hate because I'm a Malfoy.  That's what being a Malfoy is all about."

"Quidditch is what being a Malfoy is all about?"

Draco sighed.  "It was a metaphor, Harry, but that's part of it.  Everything in my life is like that.  I have to do everything I hate because my father says so and I can't do anything I love because no one wants to be associated with a Malfoy.  Even the Slytherins, my own house, don't like me and that is saying something."

"I'm sorry," Harry mumbled.

"No need for you to be sorry.  Its not your fault," Draco said.  "You wanted to know what it means to be a Malfoy?  Everything you heard down there at dinner.  Don't speak out of turn.  Only speak when spoken to.  Avoid using the brat son's name at all costs.  Talk about him like he isn't even there.  Above all, show some goddamn respect.  That's what it means to be a Malfoy.  Everything you heard down there.  Your parents admitting to trying to kill you and calling you the second rate child.  That's being a Malfoy."

By this point, Draco's entire body was shaking with violent spasms and Harry crossed to Draco, wrapping his arms around his body and stroking his hair.  "Was that the first time you heard all of that?"  Draco nodded.

"I mean, I had my suspicions and all.  I thought that maybe - but that was the first time he said it."  His voice cracked through his words.

Harry hugged Draco even tighter.  "I love you, Draco," he whispered into his ear, causing shivers to run down Draco's spine.  "If it's any consolation, I'm glad as hell that you're still here.  I don't ever want to be without you."

"Thank you.  I love you, too."

"Draco?  There's just one thing.  Who is Ares?"

Swallowing, Draco nodded and pulled Harry over to the bed.  "Ares," he started, licking his lips, "was my brother.  I was only three when he was killed.  Ares was ten, about to enter Hogwarts in a year.  Father always spent so much time with Ares, telling him about Voldemort.  It wasn't long after - well - you survived the curse and father was making excuses for his support.  One night, my parents went out and a few people who were determined to catch my father broke into the manor.  Killing was permitted back then when it came to catching the Death Eaters and they killed our babysitter before they took Ares.  When my parents got back, I was terrified and mother found a note.  They had taken Ares and would kill him unless my father turned himself in.  He was going to do it, too, but Ares was already such a strong supporter of Voldemort that they killed him, anyway.  I always thought they wished it were me.  Now I know its true."

Harry wrapped his arms around Draco and pulled him down until they were laying side by side, the lengths of their bodies pressed together.  "I'm glad it wasn't you," Harry said.  "Your parents don't know what they're missing out on.  You're wonderful, Draco."

"You know when I said about the Quidditch World Cup and the Dark Mark appeared?"  Harry nodded.  "You said I seemed fine in the forest and its nice to know I looked calm because I was scared out of my mind.  I wanted to cry that I was so scared but no one could know that.  I told Hermione to watch out, that they were after muggles and wouldn't hesitate to grab a mudblood.  You all thought I was being mean.  I was just warning her.  If she wouldn't have gotten away, they'd've gotten her too."

"Sorry for thinking you were just being a prat," Harry said.

"Sorry for being such a prat," Draco responded.  He yawned.  "I'm exhausted."

"You should be after that dinner," Harry said.  "Get some sleep."  Harry moved to roll out of bed but Draco's hand clamped down on him.  "What?"

"You can stay if you'd like.  The manor is huge and I told you, it gets really creepy when you're alone."

"Okay," said Harry and he snuggled under the blankets next to Draco.  In his breathing slowed, evening out, and Harry was soon fast asleep.

~*~

Harry sighed as a pair of lips pressed against his neck and left a trail of kisses along his skin that went up the length of his neck, over his jaw, and across his cheek before resting on his lips.  He opened his eyes to see Draco's face hovering a few inches away from his own.  Smiling, he wrapped his arms around Draco's waist and pulled him down on top of him.  Leaning in, Harry pressed his lips to Draco's, mouth slightly opened, and Draco felt Harry's tongue snake out to lick the length of his bottom lip.

They broke apart and Draco pulled back to stare down at Harry.  "Good morning," Draco said, his voice soft.  "Thanks for staying in here with me last night.  I hate being alone here."

"You're welcome.  I'll stay again tonight if you want me to.  I don't think I'd like to be alone in this big house, either."

"Okay."

Draco pulled himself up in bed and Harry thought he looked very small with all the blankets gathered around him.  Harry always knew Draco was small, probably the smallest sixth year boy at Hogwarts.  He had a petit figure, tiny bones, and then he was shorter than average.  Harry always knew, had noticed it, but it was startling in the Malfoy manor where everything was so big, making Draco look even smaller in contrast.

A knock came at the door and the house elf Harry recognized as Kippy entered the room.

"Excuse Kippy, sir, but Master Lucius is sending Kippy to find out if Master Draco is coming to breakfast."  Kippy looked back and forth between Harry and Draco, both tangled together in the sheets.  "Kippy is sorry.  Kippy did not mean to disturb Master Draco."

"You didn't disturb anything, Kippy," replied Draco, climbing out of bed.  "We just woke up and were about to get out of bed anyway.  You can tell my father that Harry and I will be down shortly and I will be apologizing for my conduct last night."

"Yes, Master," Kippy replied and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

"You're actually going to apologize," Harry said, watching Draco dig through his closet.

"Yes," replied Draco, reemerging with a grey sweater and black dress pants in hand.  Not bothering to go into the bathroom, Draco began to strip in his room.  Harry watched Draco change, eyeing the contours of his slender but firm figure.  "I need to apologize.  Easter is tomorrow and I don't want to be ostracized from dinner.  I need to apologize."

"You're really ruining this for me," Harry said, eyes glued to Draco's naked thighs as he went to pull on his pants.

"Ruining what?"

"Watching you dress.  I can't even admire the beauty of your almost naked body.  You ruin it by talking about apologizing to your father."  Had he torn his eyes away from Draco's torso, he would have seen how red Draco's face had turned.

"Oh.  Well - er - yeah.  Okay.  We need to go to breakfast.  Yes.  Breakfast.  I have to apologize and all will be well again.  Yes.  Breakfast."

Harry tried not to laugh but he failed and released short chuckles as he pulled himself out of the sheets.  "I'm going to go change.  You can come watch and unsettle me if you'd like."

Draco cocked an eyebrow, a small smirk coming over his face.  "Really now?" he asked and Harry laughed, nodding.  "Well, alright, but only because you so rudely and lewdly were drooling over my sexiness."

"Please tell me you're joking."

"I was joking.  Why?  Don't you find me sexy?"

"That's a topic to be pursued at a later date.  Your ego doesn't need any feeding."

"Yes it does," said Draco, frowning as Harry left the room.  "My ego isn't real.  Its fake.  A facade.  The real one needs feeding.  In fact, it's starved.  Feed the real Draco's ego.  It was terribly crushed when all my friends abandoned me because I was dating you.  It was crushed even further when my father admitted to wanting to kill me last night.  You owe me, Harry.  The very least you could do is feed my ego."

Harry laughed as Draco opened the doors to the guest room he was supposed to be staying in.  "Okay, Draco.  I find you incredibly sexy.  You've got a great body, and a gorgeous face, and thighs that I want to lick," Harry said as he dug for clothes and began stripping.  When he looked up to see Draco's wide eyes almost bugging out of his head, Harry couldn't contain his laughter.  "What's wrong?  Am I the first one to tell you that I want to lick your thighs."

Draco blinked, gazing up and down Harry's body.  "Actually, yes.  You're my first everything.  First boyfriend.  First kiss.  First love.  I think I got it right on my first try."

"First kiss?  What about Pansy?"

"Dog-faced Parkinson?" asked Draco, looking like he was about to gag.  "I went to the Yule Ball with her.  I don't know why everyone thinks I'm some sort of whore.  I'm a virginal boy, not some common slut.  Talk about ruining the mood."

"Sorry, but I can't have you enjoying yourself when I was thinking of you doing something self degrading like apologizing to your father."

"And licking my thighs."

Harry grinned.

"I have to do it, Harry."

"I know."

Draco sighed.  "Are we okay?"

"Of course," replied Harry.  As he walked out the door, he released a yelp when Draco reached out and slapped his ass.  "Nice, Draco.  Real nice."

"It was," Draco answered, bending over to stare at Harry's ass as they headed for breakfast.

Walking into the dining room, Harry braced himself for round two of family fighting at the Malfoy manor.  Lucius and Narcissa were already at the table eating and Harry hung back as Draco walked over and stood next to his father, waiting for Lucius to say something.

"I suppose you have something to say to me?" Lucius said, looking up at Draco, who nodded.  "Go ahead.  I want to hear this."

"I'm sorry for the way I was acting last night," Draco said.  "There was no excuse for my behavior and I won't do it again.  I understand that I need to grow up and stop acting like a child.  I will work to bring my grades up and I won't talk out of line again."

"And what about love?" Lucius prompted as he buttered his toast.

Biting his lip, Draco looked from his father to Harry.  "Love isn't real.  It's nothing more than a myth.  Real Malfoys aren't capable of love and neither am I."

Lucius smirked at Harry who was trying to keep himself together, hating that Draco may not mean the words but knowing that Lucius was more important to him. 

"Very well," Lucius said and motioned for them both to sit.  "I'm sorry you had to see what an embarrassing prat my son can be last night, Harry.  He just hasn't learned his place yet.  Sometimes I worry about him in that respect.  He needs to mature desperately."

"I agree," Harry answered, glaring at Draco.  "He needs to grow up and think for himself instead of acting like a little lost child."

"You're quite right, Harry.  I agree.  Couldn't have said it better myself, in fact.  Would you like an apple?"  Lucius offered Harry a bowl of apples and Harry took one.  "I gave the boy until he graduates to decide whether he wanted to be a Death Eater and he's only decided because of you, if you'll excuse me for speaking of Death Eaters."

"You're excused.  I can perfectly understand why one would become a Death Eater.  Voldemort does possess a great deal of power and whether its light or dark magic, he is one of the greatest wizards in our time."

"Indeed.  It's a shame about the feud you carry with the Dark Lord.  You are very skilled.  You'd make a wonderful Death Eater."

"Well you can't really blame the feud on me, now can you?  I was only a baby when the first incident occurred and for the rest, well, I was just trying to stay alive.  The only reason I'm really where I am is by default.  Not that I'd consider switching sides.  I think I've put myself in a bad place with Voldemort."

Lucius clicked his tongue.  "Well no one expects you to change sides now, Harry.  At least you're able to pick a side.  My son here has been remaining neutral for as long as I can remember.  No one was forcing him to become a Death Eater, you know.  I did try to encourage him but as you've said yourself, Voldemort does possess a great power to him and Draco would be wonderful on the Dark Lord's side.  He, however, just wouldn't make a decision.  He's sixteen years old.  You would think he'd be able to make some sort of choice."

"You would think so, wouldn't you?" Harry asked.

The rest of breakfast continued in the same fashion, Lucius and Harry talking about Draco as if he weren't there at all.  Draco remained silent, hanging his head and barely nibbling at the eggs and toast set before him.  When they finished, Harry said his goodbyes and followed Draco out of the room.

"What was that?" Draco snapped once they were in the hallway and heading upstairs.

Harry's bitter mood disappeared upon hearing the choked hurt in Draco's voice.  "I'm sorry.  I was mad because you said that thing about love and it hurt.  I know you do love me but you cowered and chose your father over my feelings."

"I'm sorry.  I just wanted the issue to be dropped and forgotten."

"I know."

The episode at breakfast was forgotten and pushed aside for the rest of the day.  Draco spent a lot of their time showing Harry around the manor and telling him stories about growing up there.  Draco's house, thought dark, gloomy, and intimidating, was highly intriguing and Harry found himself enraptured with the stories.  They were having such a good time together that they missed dinner and Draco had to lead Harry to the kitchens to get food from Kippy.

Moving Harry's things into Draco's room, they decided that Harry would share Draco's room with him for the rest of the holiday.  They crawled into bed together that night, Harry's arms wrapped around Draco's body as they snuggled together.  A few soft kisses were passes between them before they fell asleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

On another note, I need a beta for a new story I'm writing.  If interested, email me privately and I'll send you the plot synopsis so you can decide whether you want to do it or not.  It will eventually be Draco/Harry and will be rated 'R' for some disturbing themes (will be explained in the email).  Thanks to anyone who responds to my shameless advertising.


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