Draco got off the last train with a smile, as the prospect of an end to the elaboration of the Rastafarians may just be over. Silently he pleaded, as he held Jamie's hand and luggage, that the little boy would be extremely tired from all the travelling. However as they walked towards an odd little cab which hid away from the train station, Jamie's face lit up with curiosity as the shadowed tree came into view.
"You said they have dreadlocks right?" Jamie squealed.
"No mini boy, I said that it is common for them to wear their heads in locks." Draco said matter-of-factly, "Why do you want to know?"
"Because look!" Jamie demanded as they got close to the car, and he pointed his finger towards the man in the cab, who was indeed African in appearance with the most amazing dreadlocks hanging elegantly from his head, down to his chest.
"I and I." Draco muttered as he approached the car.
"I and I, Bredren, hop in…" The silky, deep, Jamaican accent floated out from the window in slow motion, whilst the words hung heavily in the air over little Jamie Potter.
Then the man put his head out the window and looked down, "Ahh," He spoke again, "I wouldn't 'ave known, I have I 'ad a lil' one travellin' wit' I now, 'ad I not 'ooked down!" The man with aged dark skin looked down at Jamie and smiled.
"Now fast driving today Ed please, my son Jamie is with me today," Draco said with a smile as he sat in the car, after helping Jamie in with a strange look on his face.
"Didn' know ye 'ad a son, Draco," Ed said whilst looking in the rear view mirror at the two occupants, "But de good natured day, tells I it be a good day today, nice te meet ye Jemee."
"You too sir!" Jamie said with pride.
"It be Ed to ye, Bredren." And with that, Draco gave the address of his wished destination and Ed sped off, answering all of Jamie's questions all the way.
XxXx
"Were here Jamie," Draco motioned to the house in front of them, "This is home for now!" Draco smiled down at the anxious looking Jamie, his features softening at the shy face of the little boy.
"It… It's big!" Jamie guessed, even though he wasn't too sure on the reaction he should be giving.
"That's Malfoy manor for you, squirt!" Draco exclaimed as he picked Jamie up and balanced him on his hip, leaving their luggage for the butlers to carry in. "Now, I shall take you too see our full sized quidditch pitch!"
"Full sized?" Jamie repeated, his little features lighting up at the very mention of quidditch.
"Yeah," Draco raised his hand and pointed ahead, "Look!"
"Wow!" Jamie squeaked, squirming a little at the very excitement of his favourite game.
"But no play tonight, because its getting late," Jamie's face fell a little, but made no protest as he was used to making things worse if he made any objection to the rules. And as Draco saw this he felt a string in his heart being tugged. "But tomorrow, were going flying!" And the blonde raised Jamie up in victory.
"Now what do we do then?" Jamie asked politely, for he knew his normal routines would be broken if he already had been promised something fun for the next day.
"I'm going to take you to my mother, Narcissa. She has been waiting to meet you for a very long time."
And the two turned around, making a quick way into the house and towards the kitchen where they found Narcissa Malfoy busying around, a very un-characteristic Narcissa, as she had flour all over her dress.
XXxXx
Harry stood in his hallway, stunned at the shopping Hermione had convinced him to get, as the brunette came bustling in behind him. "Harry don't stand there, go and put it away in your closet!" Hermione ordered and went to make her way into the kitchen. However she stopped as she reached the fridge on second thoughts. "In fact," Hermione shouted, "I'm coming to help you get rid of the old rags you own!"
Harry grimaced but stuck silent, trying not to breathe in hope that the torture Hermione and Narcissa had unleashed on him, was not worth going through anymore and wishing for suffocation.
Hermione ambled into Harry's room, going straight for the closets and opened the doors whilst magically ushering jeans, shirts and the like into the respectable places. Very soon the huge closet that Harry usually occupied one fourth of was full, and in truth Harry liked the prospect of having much attire.
"By the way, you should shower and get dressed because you're going to dinner with Narcissa tonight."
Harry froze in his spot, glaring at the back of Hermione suspiciously, "What the hell is going on here Hermione?"
Said person turned round questioningly, "What do you mean?"
"I know you Hermione," Harry sat on his bed respectfully, his gaze still on the standing woman, "When your hiding something from somebody you begin to get forgetful, it's frightening!"
"I'm not forgetful!" Hermione bit back, turning back round to hide her blush.
"Look at me," Harry ordered and waited until Hermione turned back round, "I know that had you not been hiding something from me you would have told me hours ago, and brought me here with time to get ready.
"However you have launched this on me unexpectedly so I can't protest!"
"Alright," Hermione responded with defeat. "Draco's back…"
And with that Harry began getting ready just to avoid the tears which threatened to fall at the pending possibility of having to see Draco again.
XxXxX
"Look at that!" Draco feigned ignorance, "It's late, and I would never have known if I hadn't looked at the clock!"
Jamie looked up from his new toys, to the clock and sighed. "I'm not that tired."
Draco looked put out for a second before smiling, "Well how about a show you the bathroom and the toys Grandma Narcissa put in there for you?"
"Okay!" Jamie beamed, not expecting to ever have this array of toys to play with, all to himself, without having to share with other children his age. Then there was having even more toys to play with in the bath, something which he had never been allowed to do before.
Together, Jamie and Draco bounded up the stairs towards the bathroom, Draco jogging slightly ahead because Jamie was still getting used to the house. "Ahh," Draco panted, "I should do more exercise!"
"Yeah," Jamie added, "Ill be beating you soon!"
"That you will," Draco jostled, "That you will!" And with that he opened the double bathroom doors, taking joy in the way Jamie looked as he saw the huge bathtub, which was already filled with water and bubbles which shone in many different colours, and the huge collection of play things that littered the side of the bath.
"Go on then Squirt, get in!" Draco rolled the sleeves of his black turtle neck up, and helped Jamie into the bath (once undressed of course), and helped play games of pirates and sea creatures for almost an hour.
All that was left after that was to read Jamie a story by candle light, even though it wasn't dark outside just yet Jamie's windows were charmed to look like there was a magical night sky outside. Draco had barely finished the first page when he heard slight muffling of sleep, but decided to continue the story anyway as it would aid the small boys' dreams into that of good conquering evil.
XxXx
"Harry!" Hermione squealed as he came out of his on-suite bathroom, "You look fantastic!" She stood and went over to admire her friend, touching his arms and hips in awe.
"Thanks Hermione," He gushed, "I never would have thought that after these last few months of abusing my body, that I could look this good." Hermione smiled sadly and hugged her friend, who certainly did look good in the slim fit jeans he wore that hung from thin hips, quite low and dark blue, tight fitting, cotton top with sleeves that reached as far as mid forearm.
"It will cause the desired effect, I assure you."
"Thanks mate," Harry admired himself in the mirror before reaching a pair of cloth cased sunglasses and pulling them from the little bag they lived in, pushing them on his face with a fair glint in his eye. "So I look good yeah?"
"Brilliant!" And with that Harry apparated to the address he had revised earlier.
XxXx
"Shit, Mother that's the door alarm!" Draco said anxiously from beside his mother in the kitchen.
"Language Darling, it does not do to be rude!"
"Sorry Mom," Draco said, blushing from his reprimand.
"Besides, you're quite right, I am no 'Mother'" She sneered, "I am a 'Mom' if anything!" And Draco giggled as he swept from the room, making his way to the foyer where he knew Harry would be waiting.
XxX
Harry stood nervously, his hands clasped in front of him nervously. He expected Narcissa to glide round the corner at any moment and usher him like a child into the dining room where he would be brought down to scum's level from interrogation and accusation.
A noise at Harry's right made his head snap up suddenly, when came forth Draco. "Harry." He said emotionlessly.
"Draco…" Harry tailed of, pinkening. He looked towards the always fabulous Draco and smiled, noticing the blondes look directed to Harry's attire.
"Well you look good." Draco stated flatly. "Anything new in your life then?"
"New wardrobe. Yourself?" Harry inquired.
"Many things, Harry." Draco said whilst directing the brunette towards the large drawing room.
"Care to elaborate?" Harry asked as he sat down across from Draco.
"We have a while until dinner, so yes I suppose I could." Draco took a brief moment to call a house elf to bring them both drinks, which appeared momentarily on the broad, glass coffee table.
"Why did you do it, Harry?" Draco started abruptly, and Draco didn't need to prompt Harry on his questioning for the brunette answered immediately.
"Why do I need to explain myself to you?" Harry was defensive, as he concealed the past from himself.
"Because I loved you!" Draco seethed from across the distance between them.
Harry sat shocked, but refused to say anything else. "I see how it is then." Draco stated, his voice full of cold malice. "You know, I would have thought growing up without your parents would have made you crave the chance to be a father to your own offspring, but I was wrong!"
"Yes, you were Draco!" Harry spat back, his body seizing itself to full height as he sat.
"And," Draco began again, "I would have hoped that you of all people could have some heart to a poor little boy that lost its mother!"
Harry sat silent, his eyes closed in fearful blockades of the truth. "Well Harry, your nothing but a cold hearted bastard! A cold hearted, pathetic excuse of a man!"
"Enough!" Harry shouted, his calm quickly shattered. "You want the truth Malfoy?" Harry asked bitterly.
"Of course I want the truth, Potter!"
"Do you have a pensive?"
Authors letter;
Hope you like it so far, although I must admit I haven't beta'd this at all and I'm sure there are things which do not flow.
Sorry if I offended any Rastafarians in this chapter, I did do my research!
Ashes
