Title: The Anointed Prince

Author: Decadence

Genre: Romance/Drama/Angst

Rating: R (for later contents)

Setting: Set in a time barely ten years before the birth of magic within humanity.

Summary: Faced with his upcoming crowning, a war, and a royal ball, Prince Draco Romulus Gabriel Malfoy is forced into finding a spouse, someone of the proper breeding and etiquette.

Disclaimer: All character belong to J.K. Rowling, unless stated other wise (i.e. Clarisse).

Warning: SLASH (DM/HP); Draco will be dominate in the relationship. Also, I forgot to mention this in the first chapter, I forgot until one of my reviewers mentioned it, thank you kind reviewer, but this fanfic will contain MPreg in later chapters.

Chapter Two: Etiquette of the Court and Preparation

"Amongst the lords and ladies of the royal court, it is considered a polite gesture to kiss a lady's hand in greeting, but to continue holding said hand past the brief kiss is considered an intimate gesture. One that is only welcomed by those who are not currently participating in a courtship." Seamus explained, oblivious to the fact that his pupil was no longer listening.

Harry sighed as he gazed about the garden he and Seamus were walking through at a leisurely pace. The week had passed quickly, much to Harry's horror, and now, as the servants ran about packing his and Seamus' trunks for their departure tomorrow, Harry could not help but wish that they were going anywhere but the palace.

All week long, Seamus, Clarisse, and Owen, Seamus' father, had struggled to impress upon Harry the dangers of the royal court. They tried in vain to describe the manipulation tactics and vague, but awful insinuations often found underlying a kind word that were so common place in the court. Their words were listened to, most of the time, but not all of what was said was believed. In Harry's mind, naïve though it was, it was difficult to imagine a person who had everything and still sought to wrench from others what they already had. It was dumb, but Seamus had attended such functions before, so he knew better than Harry did, so perhaps there was some truth to the tales.

Hour upon hour, day upon day, constantly throughout the week, there was this constant need to maintain his posture and his manners, for during the past week, Seamus and Clarisse had watched Harry with critical eyes. Every mistake, every over looked table fork, and every breach in etiquette were reprimanded and corrected for fear of punishment, a lecture which, depending on the infraction, could run to up to an hour. By now, Harry was of the opinion that no function, charity or royal was worth going to if this was what was required for preparation.

"…Harry…are you listening to me? Harry?" Harry slowly became aware of Seamus calling his name. Harry blushed as he realized that his companion had been calling him for a while now.

"I am sorry, Seamus, please, forgive my rudeness."

"Honestly, Harry, I do not know where you go now? I am trying to explain to you the procedure of asking another lord or lady to pass you a dish that is beyond your reach and I find you, not listening, and miles away." Seamus sighed as he shook his head. With a grin to show he was just teasing, he continued. "I am tempted to just give up and allow you to appear as the uncultured farm boy I know you to be."

"I would that I were deemed as uncultured as the pig they will no doubt serve one night for supper, than parade about as someone I am not. I know my manners, Seamus." Harry said. He continued quickly before Seamus could protest. "I know all the waltzes, the minuet, and the cotillion."

"Yes, but there is-" Seamus struggled to cut in.

"I know every lord and lady who is expected to be in attendance." Harry said in exasperation. "Seamus, I could tell you who is the most educated of the lords, how long he attended school, and which schools he was sent to and his grades in his final year. I could tell you who was injured recently and who has purchased a new horse. I can name each of them just by looking at them and I could tell you what their family tree looks like. You and Clarisse have allowed me no moment in which I could relax my guard. My manners so good now that if I were to return home tomorrow, mother would die of shock."

Seamus sighed as he gazed at his friend. He knew what Harry said was true. He knew that Harry hated such formalities as those that were expected by the court. Nevertheless, Harry would be in attendance at the ball, and so would his peers, and most of them were not a forgiving about improper etiquette as the Finnegan family.

"Harry, most of what I am trying to teach you are things that other lords and ladies learned in a finishing school. If anything, and I am loath to say it, you are behind in your schooling, and as such, the court will eat you alive. The only lord who will suffer more than you will the ones that have recently been part of an embarrassing treaty or scandal or perhaps the young Weasley lord. I teach you these things in the hopes that they will protect you from the most painful of insults." Seamus said softly. He sighed again and looked away. In the distance, he saw one of the stable hands exercising his mare, Silenus. He started when he felt Harry's smaller hand slip into his.

"I know, Seamus. I cannot help my impatience with such matters, though. I find my mind wonders during such lessons. I merely wish to relax, as today will be our last day of peace. After today, we will need to be on our guard for an entire week. Please, Seamus, can we just relax?" Harry asked, emerald eyes pleading.

"Very well, but you must promise me to study tomorrow during the carriage ride." Seamus said, wincing as the eyes were called into play.

"But-"

"Harry."

"Oh, fine, I promise Seamus." Harry muttered, smiling when Seamus squeezed his hand.

"Then let's go riding, I dare say Avicus has grown lonely and bitter since your last visit." Seamus said as he began leading Harry down to the stables. "He refuses to allow anyone else to ride him, even the stable boy who used to exercise him in your absence."

Harry smiled. Avicus was a kind, but shy young gelding who had been purchased by Seamus barely a year ago. The pure black gelding was a dream to ride, responding to the gentlest nudges and pulls of the reins, and his configuration could not have been better. Still, the horse had refused to allow people near him. The stable master blamed it on the people who had trained him, claiming that they probably broke him. Seamus had all but given up on ever being able to use Avicus until the previous summer, when Harry had gone to the stables after having a rather harsh argument with him. Seamus had regretted the words he had used and knew he had hurt his friend and gone in search of the youth. He had found Harry crying softly as he whispered to Avicus, unaware that the horse he was petting was the one that bit others who dared to touched him. Shocked, Seamus had merely watched as the pair interacted, noticing how Avicus would nuzzle against Harry's hand. Within moments, Harry was smiling and laughing at the horses' antics. Promising to bring the gelding a lump of sugar or maybe an apple, Harry had left the stall only to find Seamus waiting for him.

After apologizing and pressing a kiss to Harry's hand, Seamus had asked Harry how he had managed to get close to the wayward horse. Laughing, Harry had explained that animals had empathy and that they could usually sense what a person was feeling. Seamus still did not quite believe his companion, but pretended he did, as nothing could prove that Harry was wrong. Harry claimed that he had been hurting and that Avicus had been hurting as well. As such, they had been perfect for each other at the time. As for why Avicus still only trusted Harry, well, Harry could not explain that. Still, Seamus believed that Avicus accepted Harry because Harry had always had a weird way with animals. He use to joke that Harry was the only person he knew who would be able to whisper insults to a dragon while petting it like a dog and still walk away with the dragon's loyalty. (Now, Harry had never actually met a dragon, but Seamus still joked about it.) Harry would just smile and change the subject. He really could not explain why animals were drawn to him; he doubted he would ever be able to.

"Is he still giving you that much trouble?" Harry asked. He was excited to be seeing his favorite horse again, that and getting out of boring etiquette lectures.

"Of course, he bites and kicks and throws a temper tantrum for anyone but you and you know it. If I did not know any better, I would say you had cursed him, for I doubt he will behave for anyone beyond you, so no one will want him, even if I gave him away for free." Seamus laughed. As he was too busy enjoying his joke, he did not notice Harry's look of sadness.

"You are looking to sell him?" Harry asked quietly, fearing the answer.

"No, not sell him. No one would purchase him, despite his handsome features. No, I shall be forced to give him away." Seamus said, with a slight grin as he watched Harry look away, knowing that Harry was upset.

"I see." Harry whispered. He could feel the tears welling up, but refused to let them come. It was not logical to be this upset over a horse, he reasoned. After all, he had not known Avicus long.

Besides, mother and father could not afford to keep a horse of such breeding as Avicus, Harry thought sadly.

"Who are you considering giving him to?" He asked, wanting only what was best for the gelding.

"I do not have to consider, I already know who will be the perfect owner." Seamus said.

"Oh, well, then who?"

"Harry, I know you love Avicus as if he was your own horse, and it is plain to see that he adores you. And I know that any decision I made on whom to give him to would hurt you far more than you care to admit, but I do this for Avicus' own good." Seamus said, pulling Harry closer to him. A smile began spreading across his lips; Harry still would not look at him. "Thus, I am giving him to you."

"What?" Harry gasped, head jerking up to stare at Seamus. "I do not understand, Seamus."

"What is there to understand? Avicus responds only to you, and you care for him, it is really quite simple, Harry." Seamus laughed. Harry merely stared at him, still trying to understand what was being said.

In all honestly, Seamus had known for a while now that he would give Avicus to Harry. The only question was when to do it. He knew Harry would not understand, and he knew that Harry would protest. Most likely he would get several anxious statements about how Harry could not afford Avicus or could not repay Seamus, but he did not want to be repaid, and he would continue to care for Avicus and pay for the horse's needs. The only trouble would be getting Harry to understand and accept it.

"I…I cannot accept this Seamus, I, my family and I could not care for such an animal as Avicus." Harry whispered. "And I could not repay you even if I sold all of my family's land and the family heirlooms."

"Harry, Avicus is a gift from me to you." Seamus said. "Consider him a gift of friendship, or better yet, an early wedding present."

"Seamus-" Harry began.

"No, I shall not hear another word. Either you take him, or I shall have him made into glue." Seamus said, he did not mean it, but he needed Harry to accept his gift.

"Very well, Seamus, I shall accept him." Harry smiled at his friend in joy. He could not wait to tell his parents. He would have to write a letter to them tonight. Lily and James had received Harry's invitation to the royal ball and sent a letter saying that Harry could attend with Seamus.

"What a shame, as I am sure he would make fine glue, the finest." Seamus joked, wincing when Harry hit him.

"Thank you, Seamus, for the lovely gift. It is the best I have ever received." Harry said, blushing faintly as he stretched on tiptoes, due to the seven-inch difference between them, to press a fleeting kiss to Seamus' cheek.

"You are quite welcome, though you should get use to it; I intend to give you many gifts in time." Seamus said as they continued to the stables.

"No, do not do that, Seamus, there are others who are in need, more so than I. Give them gifts and you shall be giving me a gift." Harry said honestly.

"Fine, but expect the occasional present." Seamus said as he pulled Harry into the stable.

Harry quickly moved down the aisle, intent upon a stall mid-way down. This stall was somewhat larger than the rest to allow for the horses' nervous pacing and periodic temper tantrums. As he reached it, Harry looked over the top of the stall; it reached his shoulders, and gazed at the beautiful beast that could now be called his.

"Hello, Avicus." Harry whispered, smiling happily when the gelding came to him and nickered in greeting. "Have you been causing trouble, boy?"

Seamus shook his head in amusement as Harry entered the stall, still talking to his new horse. Avicus was indeed an expensive horse, the second most expensive horse quartered in the stables beyond Clarisse's stunning white Arabian mare. Avicus had been imported from the other side of the kingdom owned by the Zabini family, they specialized in exotic and exquisite horses. They were among the most expensive creatures bred within Noir. Only the royal family had more than ten of them, in fact, it was rumored that Draco had recently given one away as a present to one of his knights. It was insane, even Seamus could not imagine giving one away as a present. Sure, he had given Avicus to Harry, but as the two were to be married soon, Avicus would technically belong to him still.

"Tack up Silenus and bring Avicus' tack, Harry and I are going riding." Seamus instructed one of the grooms who was waiting off to the side for orders. With a nod, the boy rushed off.

"Harry, I believe we shall take Avicus with us on our trip." Seamus said as he gazed over the stall door at the two in question.

"Why? I thought we were going by carriage." Harry said, never looking up from brushing his horse. Usually the grooms did this task, but Avicus refused to allow it.

"We are, but if you can claim that Avicus is yours, you will have better standing in the eyes of the royal court." Seamus explained, eyeing the horse.

"Oh, of course, as long as I appear decent to the court, then whatever you say, my lord." Harry said as he shot Seamus a glare.

"Harry, I-"

"I know. You only wish to help. I am sorry, Seamus." Harry sighed. He ceased his task, and moved across the stall to stand before the door and Seamus. "I fear my nerves are getting to me, I am truly sorry for my insolence."

"Never mind, Harry, I understand how daunting the court seems. Nevertheless, I know you shall be the most charming and handsome lord there." Seamus smiled, touching Harry's cheek.

"Beyond the prince, of course." Harry reminded.

"Of course." Seamus said, though he did not mean it.

Despite Harry's misgivings of their upcoming marriage, Seamus found himself quite fond of his companion. After several years of knowing that Harry would be the one he would marry, Seamus found that he had accepted his decision and did not regret it. Given time, he was sure he would love Harry. The youth was gentle, kind, innocent, brave, and intelligent. He was perfection in a spouse. The only flaw, that Seamus could see, was that he would never be able to impregnate Harry. It pained him, as he would have loved kids, but also because Harry had dreamed of having a large family. It would never happen now, unless Harry found someone whom he truly loved, and said person was female.

Or if he married the prince, Seamus snorted at this thought. The chances of such an arrangement were slim to none. After all, the prince hated people who were financially inferior to such a degree as the Potter family.

"What?" Harry asked, petting Avicus' muzzle as he glanced over at Seamus, having heard the snort.

"Nothing, I was just thinking…" Seamus said, turning as the groom returned with Silenus, all ready to be ridden, and Avicus' tack. Putting all thoughts of the prince aside, Seamus mounted his horse and lead Harry off down one of the longer, more scenic wood trails on the Finnegan property.

"Draco Romulus Gabriel Malfoy, if you do not sit up straight right this instant and pay attention you will be grounded and put under house arrest." Narcissa Malfoy cried.

"Yes, mother." Draco said sullenly. He hated formal functions; it meant his mother would be on a rampage about everything, every little detail, and every little decision made. It was horrible.

"Now, you know what is expected of you?" Narcissa asked, ignoring the look her son sent her.

"Yes."

"You know the rules of picking a spouse?"

"Yes."

"You know where each guest is staying?"

"Yes."

"You know what is being served each day?"

"Yes."

"You know the rules about which rooms the quests may enter and not enter?"

"Yes."

"You know what events are planned for each day?"

"Yes."

"Very good, then you may leave." Narcissa said before sweeping from the room to speak to the cooks about tomorrows' lunch. The lords and ladies were expected to arrive shortly before lunch in a couple of days, and all their meals were already planned.

"Thank the gods," Draco muttered as he rose from the lush chair he had been reclining in and quickly exited through another doorway, desperate to be as far away from his mother as possible.

"Severus!" Draco yelled, knowing his godfather was nearby.

"You yelled?" Severus drawled as he came around a corner to the left of Draco, quickly falling in step beside his godson.

"Yes, I require you assistance."

"Again?"

"Severus-" Draco growled.

"Yes, yes, now tell me what we are doing?" Severus interrupted with impatience.

"We need to rearrange the room assignments without my mother finding out." Draco explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"And why, pray tell, must we do that?" Severus asked as the pair moved closer to the hall where the guests would be staying, it was the same hall that lead to Draco's room.

"Because, Sev, mother has placed Finnegan and Potter next to each other as the two are involved in a courtship. That is exactly what we wish to avoid, we want the pair as far apart as possible." Draco said. "Preferably with Finnegan closer to my room."

"Late night visits?" Severus asked, raising an eyebrow at his godson. Now, most role model adults would discourage such ideas upon spotting them, but not Severus Snape. Oh no, he had a vendetta against the elder Potter lord and as such, was only too glad to aid in any plot that would prove detrimental to Harry Potter's state. But, such thoughts aside, Severus would aid his young charge.

"Am I that obvious?" Draco asked with a smirk.

"Only to me."

"Then you approve of my plan and will help me?" Draco asked.

"When have I ever not helped you, whether I approved or not?"

"Never."

"Exactly. So, how do you want to do this?" Severus asked.

"Well, we will have to inform the servants to change the rooms, but make it sound as if it was mother's idea from the beginning." Draco said slowly.

"Then how will you ensure that they do not tell her that they have changed the assignments as she ordered?" Severus asked.

"Er…" Draco fell silent as he considered the new problem. "Ah, there is only one way to over ride the orders of the Queen."

"Do share." Severus said.

"The orders of the King." Draco said with a smirk worthy of the Malfoy prince.

"Draco, your mother will not approve of this." Lucius said with a sigh. He now wished he had never agreed to hold an audience with his son. Draco could be demanding when he wanted.

"Father, mother does not need to know." Draco said hopefully, this earned him a glare.

"I do not think that would be wise, Draco, your mother would kill you, and then kill me. I am not willing to risk my neck for your foolish affair." Lucius said with a smirk.

"Father, may I remind you that this whole…affair, as you term it, was your idea in the first place, and as such, you are condemning me to a future not of my choosing." Lucius winced at these words, knowing that they were true, but Draco was not done. "Now, I have selected the best candidate for the task you have set for me, and now you will not even aid me in accomplishing it. You go from one betrayal to another it seems." Draco accused as he finished.

"Oh, very well, Draco, but know this, if you mother comes to me about it, it is you who will be punished, not I." Lucius said. Still, he was proud of his son. Draco had managed to take what Lucius had done in the past and corner him with it, forcing him into giving Draco what he wanted. It was a good sign for the future king. Noir could not be in better hands.

"Thank you father, such kindness shall not be forgotten when you are old and decrepit." Draco said with another smirk as his father glared. "Speaking of which, how goes the attempt to evade war. I would like to think that if I am being forced to marry so soon, that it is for a reason and not merely a fluke."

"It is going poorly, indeed." Lucius sighed, glancing at the numerous maps and letters waiting to be looked at. "The kingdom of Malus grows stronger as it continues on its war path. It seems as if Lord Voldemort is merely conquering all these other, smaller, kingdoms so that he can amass an army the likes of which has never been seen before. I have little doubt that as soon as he outnumbers our forces he shall bring a siege upon Noir of the most devastating kind."

"And our allies?" Draco asked.

"The Veela leaders are angered and have agreed to come to our aid; after all, we are of blood relations. The Vampires would come if only for the bloodshed that will follow, but I have heard rumors of them joining Voldemort. The Werewolves are afraid of endangering both sides with their shifting and refuse to join either of us. They shall remain neutral for now. As you know, the Dragons are with us as they have been throughout the many years that have passed. We have six of the seven wizards, as Voldemort will not join us." Lucius said, joking bitterly. "Though, how much good they will do is unknown. Only Dumbledore is a match for Voldemort."

"Speak of which, have you spoken to Dumbledore recently? Has he been to the seer lately?" Draco asked eagerly.

Sibyll Trelawney was the seer who served the royal family. She had been selected as she had given four prophesies that had been proven true, the most ever proven by any seer. She very rarely gave a prediction, maybe once every other year, or decade, but Lucius had hoped that with a war nearing she might manage to give one stating the out come of the war. So far, he had been disappointed.

"No, not a thing." Both Malfoys jumped as the soft words issued from Albus Dumbledore, neither had heard him enter. "But, perhaps tomorrow she will speak."

Both Malfoys studied the old man. His bent blue hat and his half moon spectacles, even at his old age his blue eyes still seemed to twinkle with a light that never dimmed.

"Yes, perhaps." Lucius said. "What brings you here, Albus?"

"Oh, this and that. Mostly to be away from those busy bees (servants) who are rushing about in preparation for the young princes' party. I remember being that age, when the young ladies would giggle as I asked them to dance. The joys of youth can only…"

Lucius and Draco both sighed as they settled in, no doubt Dumbledore's rambling would continue for at least an hour. And both were ecstatic to be hearing of Dumbledore's long past youth…

"Do you think Avicus will be comfortable?" Harry asked anxiously as Seamus herded him toward the waiting carriage.

"Yes, Harry, for the last time, yes, I am sure he will be fine. However, we shall be late if you do not get into yonder carriage right this moment. We were supposed to leave an hour ago." Seamus exclaimed, he hated being late for anything, but to the court it was unforgivable.

"Well, I am sorry, but if you had not insisted upon me reciting which fork was which and which spoon was which, then I could have gone to bed sooner and thus risen earlier." Harry complained as he climbed into the carriage and made himself comfortable.

"No matter, mother made sure we were due to depart several hours earlier than we needed to. If we continue at a constant pace and stop only to sleep at an inn and to eat, then we should be there in time and suffer no ill consequences." Seamus smiled. "After all, it would not do for the Potter lord to be late to his first appearance at court."

"Oh shut up." Harry muttered, turning to look out the window as the carriage began to move.

The morning had seen Harry and Seamus exchanging sad farewells with Clarisse and Owen, who even now were waving from the steps. The servants had been loading the carriage with their luggage and snacks and anything and everything else the two might need. Then, Avicus had been loaded, thanks to Harry, into a larger carriage type contraption that was used to transport large animals.

"Ah, ah, aren't you supposed to be doing something?" Seamus asked with a wicked smirk. Harry's eyes widened as he gazed at Seamus, who was holding out a book on the history of the Malfoy family.

"Seamus-" Harry pleaded.

"You promised, Harry." Seamus smiled as Harry sighed and grabbed the book roughly, flipping it open and sinking down into the cushioned seat.

For the rest of the day, beyond the occasional stops to allow the youths to walk about or grab a snack in the town they were passing through, Harry struggled to focus on the, in his opinion, rather boring, reign of the Malfoys. Well, to be fair, most of it was boring; there were however, a few key parts that were interesting.

Such as the alliance that was formed almost half a century ago between the Malfoys and the dragon Elders. The Elders were the oldest, wisest, and the most powerful of the various races of dragons. It was very rare for them to hold audience with none magical creatures, such as humans. Still, when word had spread that Lucius' father had been granted such an opportunity, Noir was raised, by all standards, to the title of being the most powerful kingdom in England. If they could talk with dragons, then what couldn't they do, people asked.

The book was rather vague on how the late king had accomplished such a feat, and Harry made a mental note to ask Prince Draco about the details. Now, Harry was curious by nature, and believed that all knowledge could be obtained either through a book or by asking someone. And, as a book had failed him on the issue of the alliance between the Malfoys and dragons, then the only logical thing to do was to ask a Malfoy. After all, he would be in the palace, and in the company of the prince, so why not get something from this encounter. Seamus had assured him that the prince was polite and kind, so perhaps it would not be too bad.

"Harry?" Seamus whispered, as evening was closing in and the sun was halfway past the horizon. The next town was where they would be staying for the night, and tomorrow they would arrive at the palace in time for lunch.

"Yes?" Harry asked, putting aside the book as the light became bad.

"This inn has a stable, so you'll need to put Avicus there." Seamus said as he watched the inn come into view, smiling at the few people still out and about the town.

"Can I walk him for a while before I put him inside?" Harry asked, also watching the people.

"Of course, Harry. He is your horse. You do not need to ask permission to tend to your horse, dolt." Seamus said gently, grinning.

"I know. I merely wanted to be sure you did not have plans for us or anything." Harry said. "It would be rude of me to not know my hosts intentions before suggesting such an outing."

Seamus laughed as Harry recited etiquette to him. It would never cease to make him laugh, watching Harry don the airs of a true lord. Still, Seamus knew such attitude did not fit Harry; Harry would never be the well-mannered perfectionist that other lords prided themselves on being. Moreover, to be honest, Seamus would never ask that of Harry, at least, not after this function. It was Harry's first social function and it needed to be treated as such. It was Harry's introduction to the court, and he needed to fit in as well as possible. Harry still did not know of the true evils of high society, and Seamus hoped to protect him from such a harsh reality as much as possible.

"Harry, I will never ask you to be what you are not, but this fake you is needed just this once. After this, I shall never ask you to come to court, but the other lords and ladies need to know that you are my soon to be husband and are no longer available." Seamus said with a soft smile as Harry blushed.

"As if they would consider courting me, Seamus, you jest." Harry said.

"Perhaps, but only before they see you tomorrow. After tomorrow, I have no doubt that many will be wishing they had discovered you long before I did. I shall no doubt be forced to beat your would be suitors off with a stick." Seamus paused in mock consideration. "Perhaps I shall send Avicus after them."

"Seamus!" Harry cried, both embarrassed and amused by his friend.

"Come, it grows late and we must eat before we seek our beds. Tomorrow is a big day and we shall no doubt be in great need of our strength." Seamus said, holding out a hand to assist Harry from the carriage. Harry smiled and quickly rushed off to see to Avicus, making Seamus sigh in exasperation.

I may be the one to marry Harry, but I fear my intended spends more time with that horse than me, Seamus thought with a smile a he moved into the inn to arrange for rooms and a hot meal.

To be continued…

AN: First off, I would like to thank all of you who deemed my fanfic worthy of reviews. This is my first fanfic and I am quite anxious to see how people react to my ideas and my writing style, so I sincerely appreciate your opinions and kind words. I shall try to continue to your expectations and try to update as often as possible. Unfortunately, tomorrow I will be unavailable to update, though I have started Chapter Three. I shall update, hopefully, the day after next.

Also, I understand that I have some grammar errors, and I am sure that most of them are run-ons (ask my English teachers, they'll agree). I shall try to prevent as many as possible, but my beta reader is currently unavailable as her e-mail is down now. So, please be patient.

Now, I do not have time to respond to each reviewer, but I shall try to respond to at least a few of you each time. I am sorry to those of you I did not have time to respond to, but my parents and siblings are hounding me to play a game with them. I shall try to respond to more reviews with my next chapter.

A-Brighter-Dawn: Oh yes, Voldemort will play a large part in the chapters to come. And you are correct on you assumptions of Harry, but all shall be revealed in due course. Now, I must say that I am an avid fan of your works, and am a little embarrassed to admit that when I read your review I squealed, so thank you very much for such a wonderful review.

Dairygirl: I hope this chapter gave you a little insight into Severus' thoughts on the Potter family, but I shall explain in more detail when Harry and Severus come face to face.

Starr: Thank you very much. I have often written fanfics, though never posted them, and have never finished them, but with this one I have no doubt it shall be completed.

Next Chapter: The Lords and Ladies of the Court

Harry and Draco meet, how does Draco react to this innocent who has entered his dangerous court? There will be a lot of Harry/Draco interaction and, is Dean Thomas as straight as he acts? I realize this chapter is dull, but I promise the next one to be much more interesting.