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 and Owen).
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 Five: AnAncient Prophesy and a Message
The room was handsome indeed. The muted tones of olive and cream calmed the soul with their simple elegance and stately order. A fire blazed happily in the large fireplace, and the room smelled faintly of pine. The large floor to ceiling window afforded a glorious view of the rolling hills and the forest. Candles were situated throughout the room, each lit and not a single one flickering. The private bathroom gleamed in the light and the bath tube was full of steaming water, just waiting to be used.
"The water stays clean and heated until used, and then, it empties itself and waits to be needed again. When you wish to use it, press the knob on the side, here, and the tube will refill itself with warm water." The servant had explained. Apparently, the tube operated on magic, something Harry had never before seen. Oh sure, he had heard of magic. Wild tells of wizards battling dragons and casting wicked spells that kept a beautiful maiden in a deep sleep until the chosen one appeared. Glorious tales, to be sure, but far-fetched and repetitive.
The moment he saw the room, Harry fell in love with it. He felt at home just moments after entering, as if he had known this room his entire life and was simply returning after a long journey. With a sigh, Harry went to sit beside the fire, content to merely stay still and bask in the warmth for a while. He was relaxed for the first time since arriving, though he knew he was only delaying the inevitable confrontation with Seamus.
The lunch had gone well, he thought. The food was delicious, the best he had ever tasted, but sadly, he could not say the same about the company. The lords and ladies had had spoken of trivial matters, such as the latest fashions and the upcoming wedding, of which Harry was pleased when his and Seamus' was not mentioned. Cedric had valiantly denied the rumors of him having found a lady to court, not batting an eye at the catcalls that sounded from around the table. Harry had remained silent, still confused by the events of the afternoon, occasionally glancing at the prince, who appeared as if nothing had happened.
It was troubling, the prince's behavior. Troubling in that it was unexpected. If there was one thing that Harry had learned from his multitude of lessons was that the unexpected was a dangerous thing to find amid the court. Often times a persons' intentions were known quite well before the person even acted, so to be caught off guard was to be avoided.
In all honesty, however, Harry had suspected something of the prince. Granted he had expected the prince to begin a daring and suave courtship of Seamus, but still he had suspected something. It was terribly confusing. The prince was sending mixed signals, from kissing Seamus' hand and ignoring Harry, to pursuing Harry and attempting to kiss him. It was a plan; the prince was trying to accomplish something. The question then, was what?
The prince was of age to marry, and there was rumor of a war about to start. Perhaps, perhaps the prince was searching for someone to marry. It was logical, Harry thought. The prince needed to be able to continue to bloodline after all. Still, that did not explain why he had all but stated that he was intent on finding company with the same sex. As the prince, he needed an heir, and an heir could not be born of two males. That Harry knew for a fact, so then, what was the prince playing at.
Perhaps he has already married, Harry thought. Now all he needs is to find a couple of male mistresses to keep him company since he does not seem favorable to the opposite sex.
Emerald eyes widened at the thought. Well, the prince did know that Harry and Seamus were engaged…perhaps that was why he had made advances on both of them. Perhaps he thought that if one of them fell for him, that he could end the engagement due to foul play and thus obtain his new mistress. Harry gasped at the level of deceit the prince was willing to go to. The fire flared a violent red before calming again, though Harry did not notice.
Or, perhaps he really likes both of us and wishes to claim both of us as his mistresses, Harry thought, horrified. Shaking his head at the vile thought, Harry stared at the fire, wondering why the prince was doing this to him and Seamus. They had never done anything wrong.
Harry was brought out of his musing by the sound of a faint knock at his door. Rising he crossed the wooden floor and opened the door. Seamus stood on the other side, grinning.
"Good evening, Harry." Seamus said. "I was wondering if perhaps you would like to join me, I was going to take a walk down to the stables to see how Avicus was faring."
"Of course, you did not even have to ask." Harry said, turning back into his room to find his heavy cloak. All their trunks had been brought up earlier by servants and placed in the proper areas. "Oh, it is so cold at night though, I do hope Avicus will be all right in the stables."
"I am sure that he is. This is the palace after all. It is the best stable that a horse could ever wish for. Now, come on." Seamus laughed, holding out his hand for Harry to take. Smiling, Harry accepted the hand and closed his door behind him as he stepped out into the hall.
"My room is right next door to you, on your left side, so should you need anything, you know where I am." Seamus said as they set off down the hallway. "Should it get too cold for you or anything." He teased.
"Oh hush," Harry said with a disapproving frown. "I am not worried for myself, just think of poor Avicus, out there in a strange stable with strange people all around him. I wonder how the grooms fared in trying to get him settled."
"What do think?" Draco asked, glancing over at the old wizard, who thus far had not moved a single inch. He had just explained his odd encounter with Harry and his burned fingers. "Is it possible, that Harry Potter could possess magic?"
"Everything is possible, Draco, where magic is concerned." Dumbledore said softly as he gazed at the fire. The flames twisted and danced before him, the orange, yellow, and red blending into a perfect harmony of heat.
"Yes, so you have told me many times throughout the years. However, whereas I am born with magic flowing through my veins, is Harry Potter from the learned magic, or is he magic. Is he like me, born with it, or did it develop as he grew?" Draco asked, quickly becoming frustrated with Dumbledore's lack of true response. "Have you felt anything odd after the guests arrived?"
"It has become colder, I believe, but only slightly. The weather has been rather odd this year." Dumbledore mused, stroking his tangled beard.
"I speak not of the weather, Albus, and you know it." Draco glanced out the large window, taking in the darkening sky. "I fear I must leave you, but do not think that I am finished with you or this topic of conversation. I shall return tomorrow, and I expect proper answers then."
The twinkling blue eyes, weary yet more alert than any youths', flickered in the firelight. A faint smile touched the corners of Dumbledore's mouth as he watched the flames dance and the door click closed behind the prince.
"Magic, Harry is magic." He whispered into the silent room. As the words were uttered, the fire stilled, for a second it sat frozen. "Lily, James, do you even realize what you have created?"
The spell broke, and the fire hastened back into its dance, moving quickly, flicking upon itself before flaring away again. Almost as if it could not stand to touch itself, yet could not stand to be parted from it either.
There were no stars out tonight, the sky was overcast. The walk to the stables seemed longer than it should have. The shadows and lack of light created the illusion of a vast distance, and the silence only isolated a person and crushed them with the weight of their troubles. The stone pathway was clear of all rubble, not even a blade of grass peeked through the cracks. Harry wished for such a wayward blade to appear. He found the palace to be perfect, clean of any errors commonly found within a home. It was lovely at first, but as the minutes passed by it became unbearable. There was a sense of tension that seemed a constant within the palace walls. As if everyone was on edge, both afraid of ruining the perfection and terrified of said perfection.
As he thought about it, Harry found that the room he was lodged in was really a haven. A break from perfection all on its own, and also now that he had tossed his formal robes to the side, they now lay in a pile on the floor near the bathroom. A pile of common robes just priced higher than others, they lay there marring the floor. A disease waiting to spread as a wild fire would spread. Harry sighed; he would have to pick them up when he returned to his room.
"Harry, what happened in the garden?" Seamus asked, breaking the silence. Seamus had been patient thus far. He had refrained from bring up the incident despite how his mind had raged with questions. It would be quite the coincidence if Harry and the prince had just happened to both wonder off into the garden at the same time. Of course, Seamus did not know if the prince had even entered the garden, but he had his suspicions. Why else would the prince arrive, late for lunch and glancing at Harry? No, something had happened between the two, and Seamus needed to know what.
"After you left, Seamus, the prince said something akin to you being fond of me, and Cedric answered for me. He directed the prince's attention from me to him, or so I thought." Harry sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "A moment later, Cedric was literally dragged away by Lady Parkinson, who I have no doubt, what acting on the prince's order. The prince began to speak, but I quickly claimed to feeling light-headed and rushed off. I did not expect him to follow me."
"No, it would have been an unexpected move on the prince's behalf. Unless he was seeking something from you, information most likely." Seamus said.
"That was my thought as well. I thought, perhaps he wanted to get me alone to learn more of you, as he did show interest in you when we first arrived." Harry smiled and glanced at his companion. Seamus scoffed at the thought. "I headed for the first door I could find. I am sorry to say that the lords and ladies of the court do nothing for me, I find myself quite uncomfortable in their presence. So, when I found the garden I believed I had found heaven. It was quite there, and colorful. Peaceful.
I found a path within the garden and I followed it. I cannot say how long I was walking, but it did not seem long at all, when I came upon a rose bush. A rose bush, Seamus, in the middle of January. It is unheard of. Oh, but they were beautiful. Their tips a lush red and as the petals sank inwards they turned to the color of blood. I could not bear to gaze upon them without touching, and so I did. They felt of velvet, the finest velvet. Then the prince came. He startled me with his sudden appearance, and I feel quite foolish that he managed to sneak up on me. In my surprise, I accidentally cut my finger on a thorn, and oddly enough, this seemed to trigger something with the prince. Up until that moment he had never displayed any sort of emotion for me other than curiosity, so I can only speculate as to why he acted the way he did at that moment. One moment he was a few feet away, and in the next he was right in front of me, holding my hand with my torn finger against his lips." Harry paused as Seamus stopped walking.
"What?" Seamus asked, eye wide.
"He kissed my finger. I shall never understand why he behaved that way, but from that point, his behavior seemed to go down hill. I, of course, pulled away, reminding him of our engagement, but he did not seem in the least deterred. I must say that his behavior was quite shocking. When he had me cornered on a bench, he was moving in to…kiss me, I suppose, for I know of nothing else he could have had in mind, when I yelled no. I do not know what came over me, to yell at the prince like that, however, I felt that if I were to allow him to proceed, that I would be forfeiting something, something of great importance. In that moment, as the word no escaped my lips, I felt a heat far greater than any candle flame breath across my skin. I do not understand what the feeling was, only that the prince pulled back with a cry of pain. Then lunch was served and I ran inside." Harry said, concluding his retelling of the odd event.
Seamus was silent, considering Harry's words, and Harry took this time to gaze down at his wounded finger. He blinked, the wound was gone, his finger was clear of any imperfection, it was as if not wound had ever existed. He was about to mention it, when Seamus spoke.
"Do you find the prince handsome, Harry?" Seamus asked quietly.
"I cannot deny his physical appeal, Seamus, nor can you." Harry replied, forgetting his finger. "I do not see what that had to do with discovering the reason behind his sudden change of character."
"Harry, if you ever found someone, someone who loved you, whom you loved in return, I would let you go so that you may be happy. You know this." Seamus said.
"I know that, but why you bring it up now I do not know." Harry said slowly.
"It is just as well," Seamus said, continuing to walk. Harry watched for a second before catching up with his companion.
"I will not be disloyal to you, Seamus. Despite your horrid looks." Harry said. Seamus smiled at him.
"I know that, Harry." Seamus was glad that Harry did not understand of what he spoke, it was for the best. Seamus did not want to give false ideas that could lead to embarrassment and emotional suffering.
"So what do you think this means?" Harry asked. As he spoke his next sentence, his words became quiet, as if he feared to be over heard. "I fear the prince may wish to pursue us in hopes of us accepting his offer of becoming his mistresses."
"Harry, we are men." Seamus laughed. "Besides, he is the prince, he could have anyone he chose, and while you may be devastatingly beautiful by moonlight, during the day you are quite the ugly beast."
"It is a curse," Harry said. "No, seriously, I think that is his plan. I could not stand it, Seamus. I could not. I want a loyal husband, not a master."
"I will be a loyal husband," Seamus said. "Though you may call me master if you so desire. Harry, I simply do not believe that is the prince's plan, no it is far too obvious."
With those words, they both drifted off into silence, pondering the truth that lay outside of their reach. Harry observed the forest, situated a ways off behind the stables. The trees, it was said, were ancient. Their branches stretched towards each other as if seeking comfort as they battled the memories of their past. Those trees had seen wars, times of unrest and civil uprisings. They had seen peaceful times when everything seemed right, and times when everything seemed wrong. Harry pitied those trees, for the things they had seen, and he envied those trees for the things they had seen but had not been forced to take a side in. To have lived so long and to have seen so much, if trees could speak, oh what a conversation they would have.
Harry sighed as he considered Seamus' words. Of course, Seamus was correct; it was too obvious for the prince, too expected. No, there was something else, something hidden, though Harry was sure it was lurking just beneath his nose. Harry paused to replay his and Seamus' conversation, he blinked.
"You think I am beautiful by moonlight?" He asked, wondering how he could have over looked such words.
"No, I think you are radiant by moonlight," Seamus whispered, touching Harry's cheek. Neither noticed that they had come to a stop barely ten yards from the stable.
"Really?"
"Yes," Seamus breathed, leaning in toward Harry. Harry sighed as their lips met. It was brief, and there was no surging passion that most girls giggled about when they thought no one was listening. It was sweet and gentle, but there was nothing behind it, and they had both felt that more than anything.
"Oh my, you cannot be serious," Blaise Zabini said, watching as his childhood friend paced back and forth before him. Draco never stilled. "You are serious, but surely common sense could dispel any such thoughts from your mind. What would your people think, your parents?"
"Sadly enough, I fear the people, the common people, would approve as I would almost be marrying one of them. As for mother and father, they would not approve, but would not condemn it either. No, only Severus would disapprove, and he would be vocal in his disapproval." Draco said as he ran a hand through his pale locks. "It is absurd at best and ludicrous at worst. The court would slaughter us, well, at least him, and I would be widowed."
"I cannot even begin to comprehend where this sudden decision came from. It is as lightning appearing in the middle of a clear day. Harry Potter, the heir to the Potter land, one of the lowest ranking lords available, and you wish to…to…I cannot even say it-"
"Pursue him …I fear I could begin to wish to be with him, Blaise, yet I cannot understand why. He is uncultured, brash, outspoken, and naïve." Draco cried.
"Perhaps it is just a faze," Blaise said, brushing a strand of hair away from his face. "Though, if you fancy him, perhaps an affair is in order."
"No, for I fear that if I become even slightly intimate with him, I shall long for him even more. It is as if my soul cries out for him, though mother and father have assured me that my Veela traits are solely my good looks and my fertile nature." Draco said arrogantly. "I have watched him mingle with the court, I have seen him hold his own against them, and I have watched him smile at Seamus. Oh, how I have watched him smile…"
"I thought you were going to pursue Seamus, after all, he is pleasing to look at, as well as well off. He would come with quite the dowry." Blaise said. "It is easy to see how Pansy could fancy him."
"Yes, but upon closer inspection, I find I feel nothing for him. I have spoken with him, but fear that nothing could come from any union between us." Draco sighed. "What should I do?"
"You are asking me?" Blaise asked. "You know what I would say, I would say, that you should forget about Harry Potter and focus on Seamus, or any other lord or lady. If it is beauty you seek, then take that Chang lady, if it is intelligence you are after, then take Cedric, if it is obedience, then take Susan…but Harry Potter will bring you nothing but disappointment."
"Blaise, I feel as if I could become…fond of him…"
"Then it is best that you forget him. You are about to enter a war, Draco, and war brings death and suffering. It would tear you apart to marry Harry only to have him killed in an assassination attempt. He would be targeted and you know it. No, you are better off with someone else." Blaise said. "You are the prince, you have expectations you must fulfill, so fulfill them."
Draco sighed, gazing out the window upon the meadows where the finest horses in Noir ran. He wished for their freedom, to know nothing of expectations and wars. He longed for the peace and quite of an animals' mind, where doubts did not rule and overshadow all else. In the distance, near the stables, he thought he saw a couple there, embracing beneath the shadows and the clouds. For a moment, he wondered at the identity of the pair.
High above the rest of the palace, tucked safe behind closed doors, a hundred steps, and all the wards and enchantments that a master wizard could perform, sat the seer. She had selected this tower to be her haven, her seclusion from the common troubles of the royal family. She felt she deserved such a space in light of her awesome responsibility. There was no one else more qualified to watch over the royal family, no other seer who had seen what she had seen. Her arrogance came from her knowledge that every word spoken was true. She was the best in her field of expertise.
So she found it quite rude to be badgered day in and day out. Seeing took time and concentration, difficult things to come by when one was hassled all day. She knew there was a war on the horizon, she had seen it ten years ago, they need not remind her of her own visions. She also knew that the royal family wished for some sort of vision on the war, what could be expected, what was the outcome, anything.
"I do not control the sight, Dumbledore. I thought that you of all people would understand that." Trelawney said in her wispy voice, lighting another incense stick.
"Quite understandable, Sibyll. Still, I have felt a strange flow within the wards since these guests arrived. I feel that there is one among them who could possess magic, to what extent I cannot know until I actually meet him. The prince suspects the same as I, though he is unsure." Dumbledore said slowly, weighting what he could share and what should be kept secret.
"This boy, is he powerful?" Trelawney asked, intrigued.
"I do not know." Dumbledore said. He knew it was quite possible, as the boy had caused the flicker within the wards without trying. It could just have been his lack of control over his power. "I merely wish to know if you have seen anything since they have arrived, anything at all…"
Trelawney sat in silence for a moment, considering her next words carefully. In truth, she had seen many things over the past few days, even before the lords and ladies had arrived. She had not seen anything clearly, nothing specific, just bits and pieces. During one, she had seen a youth dressed in battle robes, running through the forest, there had been blood running from a wound on his forehead. In the next, she had seen someone lying upon a bed, crying out in pain as he twisted in agony. Then, a ruined house, razed to the ground. She had seen possibly ten such flashes, but each one was fogged, unclear and she feared to speak of them and accidentally misinterpret them. A misinterpretation was far more perilous than any other danger.
"I have seen something, though I cannot speak of it yet." Trelawney said, raising a hand to stop Dumbledore before he protested. "You understand why I must say nothing for now."
"Misinterpretation." Dumbledore nodded. "Very well, send word to me when you are sure, and I shall see what needs to be done."
"You have my word, Albus." Trelawney said. Dumbledore rose from his seat and moved toward the door. As Dumbledore moved out into the hallway and grasped the door handle to close the door behind him, Trelawney spoke again.
"Dumbledore, Ardeur breathes fire once more." She said softly as the door closed.
It had been written long ago, several centuries past, a prophesy that spoke of a savior born to vanquish the advancing darkness. The prophesy was so old and faded, that the name of the seer who had predicted the birth had long since been forgotten. In times of fear and war, the prophesy was always mentioned by the royal family. They had not forgotten it until almost a century later. Indeed, they had at one point recalled it vividly for it gave them hope that they would witness the birth of the savior who would preserve their way of life. Over the centuries, the royal families of Noir had prayed to each of the gods in hopes that the savior would come, but he never arrived. By this time, the prophesy had been locked away within the secret library of the royals, set aside as they now believed it to be a false prophesy.
Ardeur breathes fire once more, Dumbledore thought as he pulled yet another rolled up scroll down from the many shelves that lined the walls. It was cold here, where the natural light must never shine. Where there should be no light stronger than that of a candle or two. The stonewalls, built centuries ago, were almost oppressing as they sloped ever downward in accordance with the hill that this room was buried beneath. Located beneath the throne room, hidden behind a tapestry depicting one of the many battles where Noir had triumphed, was a hidden passage. It was not hidden by magic, as no one had ever sought the room the passage led to, for none knew of its existence beyond the royal family, and they had more than likely forgotten it over the years.
The room itself was small, no bigger than a dozen steps in any direction. It was damp and chilled in the stale air. This room had not been visited in many years; in fact, Dumbledore could not recall the last time someone had entered the passage. In this room of stone, the shadows played tricks upon the most logical of minds, and the isolation from the rest of the world and the silence caused ears to hear whispers. Whispers that spoke in a language, which had not been spoken in over a hundred years, dating back to a time when kings and queens had locked their secrets up within this room in hopes that their enemies would never find it, for these secrets held the key to their destruction.
The silence was broken by the sound of pages being turned and scrolls being unrolled. It was a welcomed change in Dumbledore's ears. Eyes bereft of their usual twinkle scanned the dead languages with little difficulty, searching, seeking the forgotten prophesy. It had been placed here long ago, and Dumbledore now knew that it contained the information he sought.
Ardeur breathes fire once more…the simple words spoken so softly, uttered with such hope and disbelief. If only he could find that faded scroll, if only it was not so damp here. Dumbledore mumbled a fast prayer as he set another scroll aside, hands reaching for yet another, prayed that the scroll was still intact and readable.
Tossing aside the leather cord that held this new scroll closed, Dumbledore quickly unrolled it and with a disgusted sigh, was forced to set it aside. Hours passed, the exact count, he could not be sure. Still he searched, desperate, for each second that passed caused the war to draw ever closer, and if the words Trelawney had spoken were true, then the answers could be found in that scroll. As he was about to start on another wall of shelves, Dumbledore paused, noticing a tiny shelf that he had overlooked. In his mind, he was sure there had been no shelf there a moment ago. Slowly he approached certain that he had already searched it and merely forgotten. In the faint light of the candles, whose flames flared smaller and smaller, Dumbledore could just make out a scroll. Covered in dust and spider webs, this scroll lay abandoned in the corner, its' leather cord looped lightly around the ancient paper. It appeared so fragile. Hands shaking, Dumbledore reached out and lightly grasped it, fearing it would crumble if he pressed to hard. Gently he pulled it out into the open; pale blue eyes twinkled as the shelf it had sat upon vanished. A spell had protected the scroll, some wizard before him had known of the scrolls' significance and protected it until it had been needed.
Slowly, each second seemingly an hour in its passing, Dumbledore unrolled the parchment. The words were faded, but readable. Weary eyes read the words of the forgotten prophesy, and a chill passed through the room.
When the intense heat has breathed its last breath and the eternal flames have died, the guardian shall be conceived…Years shall he walk the lands, unknown and forgotten, until a crown of gold inlaid with the firestone shall grace his head…It shall be the year he breathes again, that heat that years ago died…Wreathed in flames he shall come, the savior to banish the eternal night…
As Dumbledore's eyes landed upon the last word, the candles within the room flared brightly and then went out. The wizard sat in darkness, lost in thought.
"Shh…they will not touch you. Calm down, boy, I am here." Harry whispered, gently stroking Avicus' muzzle as the gelding shied away from Cedric's mount, a spirited Arabian stallion.
"Harry, your horse is impossible. I hear he attacked the grooms yesterday when they tried to move him into his stall. Did you really have to bring him along?" Cedric asked, moving his horse away from the gelding in hopes of calming him.
"It was Seamus, not I who demanded he come." Harry said with a sigh. He turned to find his friend, only to find Seamus, already seated atop his mare glaring at the prince, who seemed to be avoiding his gaze. Or, perhaps he was merely ignoring the other lords' anger.
Since last night, Seamus had behaved quite oddly. He seemed to focus more of his attention on Harry's wants and needs, which was odd, as he knew Harry could take care of himself.
"Would you remove your animal from my sight this instant! Such as beast is a nuisance and should be destroyed." Growled an angry voice. Turning, Harry found the Potions Master glaring death at him. "What are you standing there for, go, you are behind as it is!"
Severus glowered as the horse in question snorted and flicked his tail in agitation at his voice. Severus did not care what the horse's problem was; only that it was standing there in the way.
"Forgive me, sir, I did not realize-" Harry began.
"Of course you did not. One could not imagine such lofty expectations from one such as you." Severus growled.
Please forgive me, Lily, he thought as he uttered those words. If their friendship had not been forgotten already, it most certainly would have once she heard those words.
"Come on, Harry, mount up all ready, the others are waiting." Seamus said, disrupting the pairs little conversation.
Harry sighed and quickly climbed into Avicus' saddle, adjusting the reins in his grip and settling himself. Avicus tossed his head and pulled a bit, but otherwise remained motionless. Seamus watched as Harry leaned down and gently stroked Avicus' neck, whispering to the horse, whose ears flicked back as if he were listening. After Harry had explained what had occurred between him and the prince, Seamus had done some thinking. It was obvious to him, that the prince was interested in Harry, whether he would pursue a relationship, or whether he was just curious about this country lord, remained to be seen. Earlier that morning, Seamus had come to a conclusion. He would continue his courtship of Harry until such a time as Harry asked for it to be ended. Seamus would not just step aside and watch as the devious prince used his friend. Oh no, Seamus would play the prince's game for now, watching and waiting, he was sure nothing would come of the prince's little action though.
Still, Seamus had promised to protect his friend from Lord Voldemort, and now he made a silent vow to Harry that he would also protect him from the prince. One enemy came from a foreign land, and the other was from familiar territory. It did not matter though; Seamus would be Harry's guardian throughout the remainder of their visit. Only six more days were left before they would be safe at home again.
"I say, your horse if beautiful." Seamus turned at the voice, smiling faintly when he saw one of the Weasley lords inspecting Avicus from atop his own gelding. "Bred by the Zabini family?"
"Yes, Seamus gave him to me before we came here. His name is Avicus." Harry smiled. He could sense no underlying message behind the words. That, and they were Weasleys, they were poor, but honorable. "Are you George or Fred? I fear I can never tell you two apart."
"No one ever can. I am George, and you are Harry Potter." George said, bowing as best he could from atop a horse.
"You know my name," Harry said, trying to mimic the gesture, only to be forced to grab hold of Avicus' mane to steady himself.
"Of course, after the stir your engagement with Seamus over there caused, I doubt there is a lord or lady who does not know you. Besides, you are the only lord who does not attend court regularly beyond my brothers and myself. Your parents are also well known to my family, we have come by to visit, but often times you are away visiting the Finnegans." George said with a laugh.
"I am sorry to have missed your visits." Harry said, truly meaning his words.
"It is to be expected, after all, you two are to be married." George said. "I myself have my eye set upon a lovely lady who is in attendance at this very moment. Still, I find I have set my sights too high, for I am but a humble farmers' son who claims the title of lord, and she is a fair maiden who was born the noble birth of a lady." George sighed, and Harry could tell he too meant his words. Harry felt for him, he knew what it was like to be overlooked because of his status, but with times as dark as these, one should not readily give in.
"Come now, I am sure your lady admires you. I have barely met you and still I find you wonderful company. I dare say, if I am not being too bold, that you should approach her and at least speak with her. Perhaps she shall consent to a courtship with you." Harry said with a smile.
"We shall see, though I fear she is interested in the young Diggory lord. I cannot compete with the likes of him." George said as they began to move forward, the other lords and ladies had already started down the trail.
"Cedric is a lovely lord, but I am not sure if there is a lady he truly fancies at the moment." Harry said, still curious as to who George spoke of when he said he fancied someone.
However, even more curious was the fact that George Weasley, a member of the royal court had opened up so quickly. It seemed suspicious, as everyone knew not to trust another lord or lady who was a member of said court. Harry sighed; he had been amongst the people for far too long, he was beginning to question everything. Nudging Avicus in the side, Harry set off at a canter, enjoying the cool breeze and the overcast sky.
The prince sighed as he pushed his mount into a trot, he simply could not continue to listen to Pansy drone on and on about Seamus Finnegan. Seamus was handsome and well educated, but he lacked spirit. He felt that Seamus would marry him and simply comply with all his wishes. It was how lords and ladies were raised from birth, to be obedient to their king and queen. Seamus was not to blame, but his up bringing was. Sadly, Draco could do nothing for the lord; it was ingrained through the teachings of the private schools and finishing schools.
Whereas Seamus lacked the spirit to argue, Harry Potter seemed to have no problem with disobedience. If anything, he seemed well educated in said disobedience, at least, more so than in proper etiquette. Sure, he played his role well, but there were times when he hesitated or over looked protocol without realizing it. It was refreshing to see.
There was also a little matter of Harry's odd magical outburst. Was it intentional or was it merely a fluke, a once in a lifetime thing? The prince did not know, but he intended to find out soon. Later today, he would confront Dumbledore again. The old man knew something that he was not sharing, well, today he would share. Even if Harry Potter was not the one for Draco, if he could be trained to wield magic, then he could be used in the war. It would be a great advantage to possess an unknown wizard. Voldemort knew there were seven wizards, and what a surprise he would have if suddenly there were eight.
Yes, until such a time as Harry is unavailable to me, I shall continue to begin pursuing him, Draco thought as he glanced back at the last four riders in the group. Silvery-blue eyes found the Potter heir and smiled as he watched the boy gaze up into the sky.
Lily Renee Potter sighed, brushing a strand of hair off her forehead as she knelt down to continue her gardening. Planting season was fast approaching, and this year she had many new kinds of plants to be planted. It was her favorite thing, gardening, to be creating a haven for new life. Still, it was a tiring hobby.
For a moment, she merely sat, looking at the patch of weeds that had sprung up. Her hands were caked in dirt and scratched from thorns, she smiled, Harry would not find a lady in court who had hands such as these. Gazing up at their home, a small-dilapidated shack compared to even the Finnegan home, she prayed that her son was not being overwhelmed in court. There was much he still had to learn of the evils of the court, she just hoped that what she had taught him would be enough.
Glancing up at the sky she smiled to see the storm clouds rolling in, a rain would be good, as long as it did not freeze at night. A small black dot darted beneath the clouds. She watched, as it grew larger and larger still, quickly approaching. She thought it just a common sparrow, until it dove toward her. Startled, the bird dropped down low enough to release a small package that landed beside her. As if pulled by strings, the bird turned sharply and returned the way it had come. Confused, as birds did not carry packages, Lily picked up the box, surprised to find it heavy. Curious, she searched for any sign of who had sent it or where it was from. Finding nothing, she pulled off the cord that wrapped around the box and held the lid on. Once freed, she shivered, the wind had picked up. Setting the box down in her lap she pulled odd the lid.
In front of the Potter home, James Phillip Potter stood, talking to one of the citizens of the small farming community whose wife had just taken ill. James was in the middle of reassuring the elderly man, when a scream, wrought of fear and anguish, sounded from the back of the home.
"Lily!" James yelled, both he and the other man went running around the side of the house and into the garden out back to find Lily. Screams tore from her throat as she gazed at the contents of the box that still sat upon her lap. James raced to her side, dropping down beside her and gripping her tightly before he too glanced down.
AN: There you go, another chapter completed. I must say, that your reviews are so encouraging that I find myself wanting to continue writing immediately. Normally, it takes me months to produce as much as I have in the last six days. I am truly grateful for your responses, as repetitive as that sounds.
Review Responses:
SuishouTenshi: You really are too kind, and I am not just being modest when I say this either. There are hundreds of fanfics, which, in my opinion, are better than mine, and to hear such praise for my work is truly a gift. I cannot thank you enough. I find now, that I am most afraid of disappointing my readers. I hope it never happens, and should I begin to struggle with my writing, I shall cease to update as rapidly so as not to disappoint. Still, thank you so much for your comments, I appreciate them.
Lunadeath: I have recently been amazed at how much I have written. I find myself wanting to continue the next chapter immediately upon finishing the previous one. I am glad that you enjoy it, I was unsure at first, but with responses such as yours, I cannot help but feel appreciated and encouraged. Thank you.
A-Brighter-Dawn: As always, your comments are welcomed and valued. I am always looking for feedback on anything that I write, in hopes of improving in anyway possible. So, thank you for your review, your words are taken to heart and considered. Thank you. Also, since you have been so patient, the secret behind the dragons and their alliance brought up in the next chapter.
NightProdigy: You are quite welcome for the read, and thank you for reviewing. Yes, I am currently updating everyday, though it will become an every other day thing when school resumes. Thank you for such a wonderful compliment, it is appreciated.
Naia: I hope that this chapter has answered at least one question, as for Severus and Lily, that is revealed in my next chapter. And, the secret behind the dragons and their alliance with Noir is discussed in the next chapter. I hope with time that all your questions are answered.
Gwaeren: Thank you so much for your amazing review. I am really trying to get the interactions between the lords and ladies down in an acceptable fashion, so to hear that it is decent is great. Thank you so much, again.
dairygirl: Thank you for your comments, I read your review and could not stop smiling afterwards. It was greatly welcomed. I appreciate that you review almost each chapter, the feedback is wonderful. Thank you so much for all your comments, and I hope you enjoy chapter five as well.
driven to insanity: I am impressed myself with the extent of the writing I have done. I never expected to be able to post like this, but it is reviewers such as you that make it possible. Without you guys, I would be taking forever, so thank you so much for your praise.
Jazzylady: To answers your question, I think that for a man to be treated as a woman in medieval times, was to insult the man. It is a sign that others consider him weak. That insult alone would be enough for the court, as they dislike Harry's relationship with Seamus as it is. However, that answer will only raise further questions, unfortunately, such as, why does Seamus treat Harry as a woman if it is an insult? Keep in mind that Seamus is attempting to protect Harry, both from Voldemort, the court, and now the prince. As such, Seamus tends to treat Harry as if he were unable to tend to himself, there is no insult intended, merely protection. Anyway, I hope that helped, thank you so much for your kind review.
socks and muffin mittens: Your response to my writing is appreciated, I know I have said this to others as well, but I truly mean it. If I could find unique words for each reviewer, I would use them, but when I read reviews such as yours, words fail me. Thank you so very much for your comments, you are appreciated beyond what could be written in words. Thank you.
DraculUnknown: I hope this chapter answered your question, if not, then the next one definitely will. I thank you a million times over, for your comments; they truly are the driving force that makes this fanfic. Thank you.
Next Chapter: The contents of the box are revealed, and Dumbledore speaks to the king and queen, who seek an audiance with Harry. Draco makes another advance, and Seamus is attracted to someone else?
