Narcissa says we are all invited, but must keep our hands off the boys at the table.
Shania Maxwell-Thanks! Yes, time-wise the story is moving at a snail's pace. I'll see what I can do about that.
draco-is-a-hottie -Thank you! So glad you still like it! Your words are too kind!
moonstar-dust - So happy Igave you laugh! Thank you so much!
Crowley Black- pulled your name out my own personal sorting hat, therefore you won the card reading. How accurate? Beats me. Never did this via the internet before. I only asked about your love life. I see in your future an irrepressible, gorgeous, charming (you'll think so), free-thinker, who will love you more than life (and will love life quite a bit) Will freak out some of your friends, but parental types will adore. Person has a lot to offer. Older than you, but not too much, not falling apart by any means. You don't know this person yet. (But if this description reminds you of someone, no harm going for it- that bit wasn't the cards, just my humble opinion ;-)
For each of you, accept this as my love offering:
Unity
Part Twelve
Ever Pure
It was a picturesque morning. The sky was softly blue and nearly cloudless. From the pitch, Harry could see the lawns, gardens of the manor, and rolling green hills spreading out in all directions, bordered to the east by Lake Malfoy and to the west by Malfoy Forest, which looked tame enough in daylight from a distance, but was supposedly haunted and unforgivingly dangerous. Draco and Harry stood Firebolts in hand.
"How challenging a game do you want, Harry?"
"Give me everything you've got."
Draco smiled evilly. "You want bludgers?"
"Bludgers?"
"Enchanted ones, Harry, that exist to kill seekers."
"How bad are they?"
"The first time I used them I was two days unconscious under a mediwitch's care. Probably not a great idea to use them today. If they incapacitate both of us, a hassle of house elves and sleeping beauty, are the only ones who might eventually notice."
"A hassle? Is that what a pack of them is called?"
"Absolutely, kind of fitting if you think about it."
"Fuck the bludgers, let's just seek."
"Good choice."
Draco took out a small wooden box.
"This is a professional snitch that I modified. It's faster now, and reacts to all attempts to catch it. It does stay in play the entire time, however. I'll release it, we'll get into position, count ten together. On ten, the game begins. Agreed?"
"Are you going to cheat?"
"Are you?"
"Not if you don't."
Draco smiled and released the snitch.
On ten, Harry sighted the snitch and took off after it. Draco was on his right, flying next to him, matching his speed perfectly. The snitch was outdistancing both of them. In order to stay on the field, however, it would have to change direction soon. Harry pulled left, breaking away from Draco, who still followed the snitch's course.
Harry realized he was taking a chance, but decided to cover the other side, hoping the snitch would try to sail past him. The snitch reversed direction. Instead of flying toward Harry, it flew directly at Draco who reached for it. As Draco's hand neared, the snitch changed angles and flew straight up. Harry followed its climb. Draco pulled up hard and began to spiral. He still managed to right himself just in time to make another grab.
As Harry watched, he saw that the motion of Draco's hand seemed to repel the snitch. Harry tried to use Draco's effort to his own benefit. He angled toward Draco in attempt to grab the snitch away. In the process he nearly ran into him and would have, had Draco not made a quick correction. The snitch sailed away from both of them. "Good thing for me, you are in top form today," he shouted at Draco, who was too intent on pursuing the snitch to answer.
After almost half an hour of play, Harry realized he hadn't managed to come closer than three feet to the snitch. Draco had been within inches twice.
Harry watched as Draco's face transformed into a study of determination. He flew swiftly downward in angle that would intersect with the snitch's current course. Harry headed into the dive, close behind Draco. He ducked his head and willed himself to fly faster, gaining slightly, only to break away from Draco as he neared the snitch. Harry pulled into a tight fast turn and circled both Draco and the snitch. Draco grabbed for it. The snitch flew toward Harry, who grabbed for it, it reversed again, and sailed into Draco's open hand.
"Thanks for the assist."
"Believe me, I wasn't trying to help." Harry held his hand out. Draco took it." Congratulations, you flew well today."
"Thank you, you too."
"What an absolutely bastardly snitch! It's exactly the kind of thing I would expect you to invent."
"I hoped it would be good for training. It isn't. Now, I just use it for fun."
"Did you modify the bludgers as well?"
"Of course! They are quite good for training."
"Not if you are out cold for two days."
"That only happened the first time I used them. It wasn't a fair match. you know. I've flown against that snitch countless times. You did tremendously well for having first met it. I doubt I'll beat you next time."
"Then I demand a rematch."
"You'll get it. For today, I believe I'll retire on my victory. We need to get ready. I want you to meet Narcissa."
"Draco, I don't mean to sound disrespectful of your mother in any way; but can I ask you a question?"
"What?"
"Is she going to try to kill me?"
Draco seemed to give the question some serious thought. Finally he said,
"Certainly not before or during luncheon. She's often direct, and sometimes eccentric, but never entirely impolite while entertaining guests."
After they showered, Draco dug through Harry's things for appropriate clothing for him to wear. He hit the shirt, trousers, and robes he selected for Harry with anti-wrinkle spells. Harry watched Draco dress. His movement were practiced and swift. Draco took a quick look in the mirror, then turned, to find Harry still half naked and staring at him. Draco smirked.
"Plenty of time for that later. Dress."
Harry ignored the implication.
"Draco, what am I going to say?"
"To Narcissa, you mean?"
"What's she like? What if she hates me?"
Draco walked over to him, and put his arms around him.
"Harry, don't be nervous. It doesn't matter what she thinks about you."
"Of course it matters!"
"Why?"
"I don't know. It just does!"
"It's going to be fine."
"What should I do?"
"Be yourself."
"Who else were you expecting me to be?"
"Harry, we are going downstairs. If Narcissa isn't there, we wait for her. If she is there, I'll introduce you. Stand until she's seated. I'll seat her. We have a conversation and eat. That's it. No reason to panic."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," Draco kissed his lips lightly, "now, get dressed!"
After Harry had finished, Draco took a look and started pulling his clothes this way and that. He didn't bother with Harry's hair. Harry wasn't sure if that was because Draco actually thought it looked decent for a change, or if he had written it off as beyond help.
Draco led Harry through the suite to a staircase, that ended in a hallway that seemed to go on forever, then through a doorway to another hallway and another staircase. Harry realized suddenly that he was lost. If his life depended on making it back to Draco's suite by himself, he was dead. He tried to pay attention the rest of the way.
Eventually, they were at the main staircase, a huge white marble one, that faced the entranceway. They walked though the ballroom to get to the dining room. Narcissa was already there. She wore her hair up in a intricate braided twist and violet dress robes. There was no denying that Draco's mother was, physically at least, a beautiful woman.
"I'm sorry if we kept you waiting, Narcissa. I want you to meet my boyfriend, Harry Potter."
If she was surprised, she did not show it. Narcissa smiled warmly, and took Harry's hand.
"Harry, welcome to Malfoy Manor. So nice to see you again. I never had the chance to say how sorry I was to hear about your godfather. He was my cousin, you know, though we only knew each other as children. I know Sirius was a good man."
"Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy."
"Please, call me Narcissa."
She kissed Draco cheek and said,
"Such a charming surprise! The house elves didn't tell me we had company. I imagine that was your doing. We won't wait for your father. Lucius is awaiting trial in Azkaban."
Draco pulled out the chair for Narcissa. She sat and settled her napkin in her lap.
"I know. He tried to kill Harry."
Draco took the seat to Narcissa's right. Harry sat next to him.
"You were there, Draco?"
"I was."
Narcissa picked up her fork, Harry and Draco followed suit.
"I see."
Narcissa looked to Harry, holding his eyes with the sheer intensity of her unblinking gaze.
"I do apologize for my husband, Harry. He is not the man he used to be. Do you love my son?"
"Yes," Harry said immediately, and then was rather shocked by the truth of it. He had never thought about how he felt. Harry paled at the realization and horror of having just blurted out a declaration of love. Was he mad? He had absolutely no idea about how Draco felt. Now he definitely did not want to look at him. He looked at his plate instead.
Narcissa took a small bite, chewed, swallowed and said,
"Harry, I know if Draco did not love you, he would never have brought you here."
"Narcissa-"
"Time is short. You have much to do. What are your plans?"
"We need to train. I am sure Severus will agree to help. I hope you will as well, Narcissa, if you feel it is in your best interest, of course."
Mother and son locked eyes. Harry tried hard, and managed to swallow the salmon in his mouth. It was wonderful. Harry loved salmon. He had been hungry. Now his mouth felt like a desert. He had no appetite at all. He took a sip of wine. He wondered if either would notice if he fled. Perhaps he could find the kitchen, or a wandering house elf.
"If I were not your mother, I still would help because of whom you are, Draco, because of whom you both are."
"You were always smarter than Lucius."
Narcissa smiled.
"One of the many reasons I married him."
"Are you a dessert person, Harry? Our elves make wonderful apple strudel."
"I'm not very hungry, thank you, Mrs. -ah- Narcissa."
"Oh my, I have put you on edge, haven't I."
Narcissa picked up a crusty roll from her bread plate and tossed it at Harry. It hit his forehead and fell onto the table. He was so shocked, he wasn't sure that it had really happened. Perhaps he was still asleep and all of today was just another weird dream. Draco laughed.
"Harry! You're not going to let her get away with that, are you?"
Harry look at him for the first time since announcing he loved him. Draco looked terribly amused, not horrified, not freaked out, not even ready to kill him. He must be dreaming, so none of this really mattered. He looked at his own roll. It didn't matter if he were dreaming. Awake or asleep, Harry Potter was not about to throw food at Narcissa Malfoy.
"I thought I might," Harry said in a very small voice.
"Well then, my beloved, I see it falls to me to defend your honor."
Draco picked up an asparagus spear and tossed it at his mother, who was giggling like she was ten. It hit her chest and slid down into her cleavage. She retrieved it and set it to the side of her plate."
"Good shot! I shall concede defeat, if, and only if, Harry will eat his lunch now," said Narcissa, smiling at Harry.
Harry smiled back and started tucking food away. After that, the conversation was easy. Draco told Narcissa about their run in with Lucius and the Death-Eaters, but embellished the story for the sake of humor. According to his version, the battle took place entirely in Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, and neither he nor Harry had wands. Harry told her about their Quidditch match, making Draco's catching of the snitch sound like a feat heroic in proportion. Harry did have the strudel, which was very, very good.
to be continued
