Disclaimer, Pairing and Warning: in chapter 01
Every you, Every Me
C & P by IncubusSuccubus
Interlude: In the Shape of Things to Come
Lucius had taken Harry out under several disguises. Each and every time they went out, he taught more things to his boy. Today they would go to downtown London and have lunch at a Chinese Restaurant near the financial district.
Harry was asked specifically to dress casual; dark faded blue jeans and a black turtleneck under a marine blue blazer. His scar was concealed with a combination of Muggle face powder and spells. His eyes were left green and charmed with a temporary correction. His glasses and his scar were the most prominent of his features. With the simple disguise, he looked like an ordinary boy.
Lucius was dressed in thick black trousers, a black button up shirt and a black blazer. The color did look good in contrast with his pale skin. His long blond hair was tied to the back. He didn't bring his cane but his wand was ready and strapped on his arm, under the layers of sleeves. He let the boy bring his wand too and told him to keep it within reach.
They strolled about with ease as they had numerous times. Dressed as a Muggle, Lucius looked a lot younger than his age, or maybe it was because he was a wizard and their kind tended to age until a certain point and then stop. His Angel looked elegant and powerful, thought Harry.
When they entered the restaurant, Mr. Lao, the owner, greeted them and took them to their table near the back. Lucius helped Harry with his seat then sat down on the opposite side of the table. Harry let Lucius order their dishes as he didn't know that much about Chinese cuisine. While his Angel was busy talking with Mr. Lao about the menu, Harry looked around the small restaurant. There were only five tables at the back and ten tables at the front. The restaurant was colored in red with golden dragons around the pillars, and rich, dark brown wooden walls. The tables were covered with dark reddish brown color and golden dragons trimmed on the edges.
Most of Mr. Lao's customers were old acquaintances and people who worked near the area. He could tell from their auras that they were Muggles, since Lucius had insisted he learn to be aware of such things. He snapped his attention back to Lucius when he noticed that his Angel and Mr. Lao were looking at him. Harry blushed and fidgeted nervously. Lucius just chuckled softly and Mr. Lao smiled gently.
"Harry, Mr. Lao had agreed to teach you the basic power center. If you want, you can practice with his children every Friday and Saturday."
"I—" he hesitated. "It sounds interesting," he said nervously.
Mr. Lao talked with Lucius again in Chinese and made some animated gestures. The old man's eyes twinkled in excitement. Lucius looked at Harry. "He said your body has the potential to have a stronger chi, the power that balances your negative and positive."
"I, uh, okay." Harry blushed.
Lucius nodded at Mr. Lao and the old man smiled wider. He bowed at Lucius and at Harry then retreated to the back to prepare their lunch.
"Do you really want to try it, Harry?" said Lucius. "Because you have to be really sure. Mr. Lao is a tough Sensei and his teaching is a bit unorthodox."
Harry looked at Lucius. "I don't know what kind of teaching Mr. Lao could provide me."
Lucius contemplated for a moment. "Mr. Lao is a master of Gong Fu and Tao and was an old general from his old days back at the end of the Qing Dynasty as well as for the early government of the Republic of China. Yes, he is old but don't think he is not strong at his age, even though he is a Muggle. He would give you another perspective and another edge to protect yourself."
"I see. So what's Tao?"
"Taoism is a way of life in China. People of the East have think differently than the people of the West. Where we separate things: black separate from white, dark from light, and try to find the truth, the Easterner tries to balance these opposite powers to achieve harmony and that is their truth. The concept of Ying and Yang is: inside black there's white and inside white there's black, just like my family crest." Lucius pulled out a pocket watch and showed Harry the Malfoy's crest. "If you read the inscription bellow the shield, it says 'Blanc dans le Noir dans le Blanc' White inside Black inside White."
"So you're saying that darkness can coexist with light if there's a balance."
"Yes. Mr. Lao can explain it to you in more detail if you want. And I'm sure he will teach you how to defend yourself, Muggle style."
"Please."
"I will arrange it then. Ah, here's our food." They bowed at Mr. Lao before the old man went to attend to his other customers.
Lucius taught Harry how to eat Chinese food with chopsticks. After a while, Harry clumsily got the hang of it and began to eat various dishes on the table. They were having two meat dishes and one vegetable. They ate their food with rice and drank hot tea. Harry had never felt this kind of warmth, feeling at peace and free from the chaos of the previous nights.
They continued to eat in a comfortable silence with only the sound of people chattering and the sound of moving plates and chopsticks around them.
"Were you there?"
"Which there?"
"When he killed my parents. Were you there?"
"Yes."
TBC
Thanks to my earlier readers and beta: Draco Malfoy, Autumn Sun, Leila, Sansa