Tiger & Dragon
By loverstouch
Disclaimer: All the characters belong to J.K Rowling. The story is based on Rowling's work, but the plot of 'Tiger & Dragon' comes from my own sick brain.
Summary: In the summer after his fifth year Harry is taken from the Dursleys to live with the Malfoys. The next day the Daily Prophet's headline read 'Boy Who Lived Died In Death Eater Attack' …
Rating: R
This is my first "Slash" fanfiction and the first fic I have published at all, so please go easy on me.
The story begins in the summer after Harry's fifth year, which means yes; it is post OoTP, but has nothing to do with HBP.
I'd like to thank Draeconin for being the beta for my story. I'm really grateful for your help.
Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 16 – A Potion went wrong
Tiger had been in the library for two hours, brewing potions and rereading the fifth year's potion book (the very last in his review-marathon), when Professor Dumbledore came in to say goodbye and tell him that Lucius was up again.
"At the moment he is in the garden with Severus and Narcissa to get some fresh air. We've talked about your little show this morning at Malfoy Manor, and we think that no harm has been done."
"Not for us, at least," Tiger said with a smirk, thinking about Pettigrew and the mystified look on the Dark Lord's face.
"Well, I'll be leaving in a few minutes, as will Narcissa."
"What about Snape?"
"Professor Snape will stay overnight to make sure Voldemort's treatment had no lasting effects on Lucius. Narcissa will stay here too; she'll just go and fetch some things for her and Severus."
"Oh, joy."
"Promise me you won't give Professor Snape a reason to kill you or torture you so much that you wish the Dark Lord hadn't failed doing so himself."
"You mean no kissing and flirting?" Tiger asked in a disappointed voice, his lower lip trembling dramatically.
"Just try and stay alive, okay?" Dumbledore shook his head in resignation.
"Hey," Tiger beamed. "I'm the Boy Who… Died So He Can Live Under A false Name To Torment His Potions Master And To Make The Dark Lord Blush," he added joyfully.
Still shaking his head, but smiling nonetheless, Dumbledore left the room, and Tiger went back to his potion.
-------
Draco was lying on his bed, reading over his finished Transfiguration homework, and preventing Spike from biting at his naked feet, when there was a knock on his door.
"Come in." The door opened, and Tiger stepped into the room, two books pressed against his chest, and a treasonable look on his face.
"Do you have a minute?" he asked, coming closer to the bed.
"Of course. Sit down." Draco shoved his homework to the side, and sat up to make room for Tiger. Spike left Draco's feet alone in favour of being ruffled by Tiger. "Are these potion books?" Draco asked, indicating the books Tiger had brought.
"Yes. Our fifth year book, and a book I found in the library about all sorts of potion ingredients."
"I know this book." The blond took the second book and leafed through it. "Every ingredient is explained by name, look and function. The best book in the whole library."
"That's the problem."
"What?"
"Not every ingredient is in the book."
"Isn't it? I thought so. After all, it was written by Severus, and he should know every single ingredient there is. Or at least every one you would need for the potions in our school books."
"That brings me to my next question."
"Which is?"
"I've been working with your fifth year's Potion book, and I've found a few potions I didn't recognize from last year… And don't say something smooth like 'it doesn't surprise you' or something," he added before Draco could say anything. "I've looked through my book at least twice, and I can't remember those potions."
"You can't remember them because they weren't in your copy of the book."
"Why is that?"
"Severus provided me with a special exemplar with some advanced potions."
"So it is true. He favoured you above us."
"Of course he does. He is my godfather, after all. But don't think I haven't earned my good marks," Draco hurriedly added, when he saw Tiger's face darken.
"Prove it," Tiger dared, with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"How?" Draco countered, self-confident.
"What is Lactisotum?"
"Are you trying to make a cheering potion?"
"How do you know?"
"It is the only potion in the book with that particular ingredient. And since you've told me about working with my copy of the book, it's pretty obvious."
"So, what is it now?" Tiger asked, ignoring Draco's triumphant smirk.
"It is the most important ingredient for the cheering potion. It has to be used in the exact quantity and quality. It-"
"Draco!" Tiger exclaimed, unnerved.
"Okay, okay, don't get your knickers in a twist." The blonde's smirk grew when Tiger grimaced at him. "It's a special type of chocolate."
"That's all? Chocolate?" Tiger laughed in disbelief. "And I thought it was something really rare and expensive."
"But it is. Lactisotum is very expensive. There are only a few people who know how to produce it. That makes it special."
"Then I don't even have to start making the potion. Where should I get such a rare ingredient, if it isn't even remarked in this book?" He pointed at the book that explained every ingredient ever mentioned.
"Are you sure it isn't?" Draco smiled knowingly.
"Of course I am," Tiger insisted. "I've looked through it three times."
"I bet it is in there."
"Unless it isn't sorted under 'L', then you don't have to waste anything."
"I still want to bet."
"What about?"
"If the Lactisotum is mentioned in the book, you will have to do what I want. If it isn't, I'll be at your mercy." Tiger contemplated the bet for a moment, then he shook Draco's offered hand.
"I'm in."
"Good." Draco took the book and leafed through it for a moment before he stopped on one page with a triumphant smile. "Here." He shoved the book in Tiger's hand and pointed out name, look and function of the Lactisotum.
"That's not possible." Tiger exclaimed. "That wasn't there before. How…" He dropped the book in his lap and looked up at the blonde.
"Oh, I think I've forgotten to mention that the book automatically adds ingredients when you talk about them while holding the book."
"That's not fair! You've fouled me," Tiger exclaimed angrily. "I won't do what you want. The bet didn't count," he whispered, when he saw Draco's mischievous smirk.
"Yes it does." Draco smirked, and crawled on all fours over to Tiger, who backed away to the head of the bed. "And I am intent on redeeming the bet…" His head was mere inches away from a terrified Tiger. "Right now." Draco beamed and stood up from the bed. "Let's go make the cheering potion."
"What?" The dark haired boy asked, in disbelief.
"I will help you make the cheering potion."
"That's the redemption of the bet?"
"Of course. What did you think I would do to you?" Draco asked innocently.
"I hate you," Tiger responded, and shoved Draco to the side on his way to the door.
"No, you don't." The blonde grabbed Tiger's wrist, pulled him back, and crushed his lips to the other boy's. Tiger didn't react at first. He was so surprised that he couldn't even do anything when he felt his knees go weak. When he felt strong arms wrap around his waist to support him, Tiger gasped, which Draco took advantage of, and shoved his tongue into Tiger's mouth. After the initial shock, Tiger's arms sneaked around the blonde's neck and pulled him even closer, to deepen the kiss. When he felt Draco's hips against his, the dark haired boy pulled away and took a deep breath before he looked up at the blond.
"We can't do it," he said calmly.
"Why not?" Draco asked, confused.
"Because we need Lactisotum for the potion," Tiger stated matter-of-factly.
"What?"
"We can't do the cheering potion. We need Lactisotum for it." Tiger smirked inwardly when he saw Draco's face turning from confused to understanding, then to anger and frustration.
"Tiger Ryan: sometimes I really hate you." Draco glared at him angrily.
"No, you don't." Tiger smiled, and went to the door. He stopped when he passed Draco, leaning closer to him. "By the way; what knickers?" He went out of the room, leaving a very frustrated Draco behind.
-------
"I can't believe you've Lactisotum," Tiger repeated for the hundredth time since Draco had entered the library, and the two had started to make the cheering potion. "Is there anything you haven't?"
"There is a lot we don't have."
"Like what?"
"Blast Ended Screwts in our back yard, rats in the dungeon, mould in damp corners, a poltergeist that torments us at night..."
"Who needs all that?"
"No one. That's why we haven't any of them," he said, and added the last ingredient to the potion. "Just five more minutes, and we can try it."
"What exactly is its effect?"
"You'll be cheerful and forget everything that's on your mind for a while. You will feel a bit light-headed."
"Like with drugs?"
"No, it's totally harmless. You'll just relax and enjoy what happens around you. There will be nothing that can bother you."
"Then I think we should give Severus a drink, as well."
"I tried it once, and failed. He noticed something was wrong with his tea. He wanted to kill me afterwards. I had to fear for over week that he had poisoned something I ate or drank."
There was a moment's silence where both boys were lost in their own memories/fantasies about this particular event. After a while, a silent puff announced that the potion was ready.
"How much do we have to take?" Tiger asked, when he placed two cups on the table.
"A full cup each," Draco said, and poured the potion into the cups. He gave one to Tiger, and then they both drank their cheering potion.
-------
"I love the quiet of the estate. The ripple of the pool is really relaxing," Severus Snape said when he sat down on one of the sunbeds beside Lucius.
"Are you tired of Narcissa's babbling?" Lucius asked with a smirk, handing his friend a glass of lemonade.
"God, no. Of course not. I love her, and I would like to spend all day with her, every day for the rest of my life. No, it's just that in Snape Manor I can't relax, knowing that the Dark Lord knows exactly where I live."
"But you have all those wards."
"I know. And there is no way to pass them and enter my home alive, but still it's different, here."
"Sometimes I think it is too quiet," Lucius mused, sipping at his lemonade.
"What do you mean? Do you regret it, that Narcissa and I-"
"No. Don't think that, Severus." Lucius cut him off before he could even consider this thought. "I love Narcissa and I love you. You're my best friends; more than that. And I'm really happy that you two are happy together."
"But you want someone, too."
"Believe me, old friend, I can get enough-"
"Sex maybe, but love…"
"I once thought there was someone, but-" Lucius began, but two loud voices brought him out of his thoughts.
"No, you'll never catch me!"
"Oh, yes, I will!"
Tiger and Draco were running out of the house, passed the two men and down to the little forest a few hundred meters away. Draco was ten feet behind Tiger, and it didn't seem that he would catch him any time soon, when he stopped suddenly. "Hold on, wait," he shouted at Tiger, and limped after him.
Tiger turned around and ran back to him. "Draco, what happened?" he asked, concerned when he reached the blond.
"Nothing. I got you. It's your turn," Draco cried all in one breath, before he pushed Tiger away and ran off at full speed.
"You cheating ferret! I'll get you back for this!" And Tiger ran after him.
"What was that?" Lucius asked, a little shocked.
"Do you still think it is too quiet here?" Severus asked, with a smirk.
"Bugger off." The two stared at each other for a moment, then began to laugh like the two boys who were now rolling in the grass.
"What the hell is going on, here?" a confused voice said, interrupting them. The two men looked at the newcomer, then back at each other and laughed again. "Lucius, Severus, are you drunk?" Narcissa asked, concerned.
"Only with joy, my dear Narcissa," Lucius said, and kissed his wife on the cheek.
"And love, of course," Severus added, and gave her a real kiss.
Narcissa couldn't help but smile as well, until she heard shouting coming from the edge of the forest. She looked up and saw Tiger and her son playing like Muggle children, mock fighting with two long branches as if they were swords. "What has gotten into them?" She watched as the two vanished into the forest.
-------
Two hours later, the three adults heard the shouting again. This time, two muddy figures came running from the forest, stopping occasionally when one of them captured the other, and they fell together to the ground, before standing up and running again.
Severus had jumped up when he first spotted the two 'monsters', but when he heard them laughing he had relaxed somewhat, and had put his wand away.
"What happened to them?" Narcissa wondered.
"Either they're just having a lot of fun, or they had an overdose of cheering potion."
"It would seem they must have had a really big overdose."
"Either that, or…" Severus thought about it for a moment, then he nodded. "We will see."
"Boys!" he shouted.
Tiger and Draco stopped twenty meters away from the pool and the adults – a few feet away from where the tiled floor began - and looked at them. They tried to be serious, but couldn't stop giggling.
"Yes, Uncle Sevviiiiieeeee," Draco sing-songed, which caused them both to laugh out loud.
"Uncle Sevvie - that's great," Tiger laughed.
"May I call you that too?" He turned to Severus, and smiled.
"No."
"Please?" Tiger's eyes grew wide, and he stuck out his lower lip.
"No!" Severus said again.
"Pretty please?" Tiger's lower lip trembled, and his tone was whiny.
"Stop this nonsense and come over here," Severus growled, which caused Tiger to cry.
"Look what you have done," Draco exclaimed, and took Tiger in his arms. "I hate you, Severus. Why did you do that to him?"
"Oh, for god's sake, all right. Call me Uncle Sevvie for now."
"Cool. Thanks!" Tiger turned around and beamed, all tears gone.
"Would you be so kind as to come over here now?"
The two boys started to walk to the adults, but before they could reach the tiled floor, Narcissa stopped them.
"Don't you dare walk over these tiles like this. Go get cleaned, first."
The two boys looked at each other, and smirked. They counted silently 'til three, then ran and jumped, squealing, into the pool together.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy!" Narcissa squeaked when the spray came all over her. Severus glared down at Tiger, while Lucius had to hide a smile. The two boys swam to the other side of the pool and climbed out in front of the adults. Draco stepped up to Narcissa and looked at her with big, innocent eyes.
"Don't be mad at me, Mum. I just wanted to get cleaned for you. I didn't want to make you all wet. I'm sorry. Forgave me?" He had stuck out his lower lip at the end of his speech, looking at his mother like a small child.
"I know it wasn't your fault, Baby." Narcissa patted her son's arm and glared around him at Tiger, who shrank back at the sight, just to come face to face with Severus.
"Uncle Sevvie." He smiled. But his smile died down when the man's glare increased. Severus grabbed Tiger's chin in one hand, and looked him deep in the eyes.
"Like I thought; cheering potion overdose. Too much Lactisotum."
"What does that mean?" Narcissa asked worriedly.
Severus turned to her, at which time, Tiger took the opportunity to free himself from Severus' grip, and took a few steps away. He indicated for Draco to follow him, and the two boys left while Severus talked to Narcissa.
"Where are we going?" Draco whispered, when they entered the house.
"Someplace where the greasy git can't get us. He hurt me." Tiger rubbed his chin carefully.
Draco took Harry's hand away, and stroked his chin softly. "I'm sorry about that. Shall I make it better?" he asked, still stroking Tiger's face.
"How?" Tiger asked curiously.
"When I fall, my mum always kissed my injuries."
"Would you do that?" Tiger asked, biting on his lower lip.
Draco nodded, and leaned forward to place a feather light kiss to Tiger's chin. "Better?"
"Mm hmm." Tiger nodded shyly, before he turned around and continued walking.
"Where are we going now?"
"To your room."
"Why?"
"We can play with Spike."
"But he isn't there. He went out after us, I saw him."
"Then let's just play something else in your room."
"Why my room?"
"I like it. It's a part of you. And I like you, too." Tiger lowered his head, avoiding Draco's eyes.
"Really?" The blonde asked curiously. Tiger just nodded, and went on. They reached Draco's room and closed the door softly behind them to not alert anyone. "So, what should we do now?"
"I'd like to jump on your bed. It's so big; it invites me to do it." Tiger ran up to the bed, but before he could reach it, Draco grabbed his wrist to stop him.
"What?" Tiger asked, confused.
"You'll make it all wet and dirty. Mum won't be pleased."
"That's not my problem. I don't like your mum." Tiger pulled his hand free, and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Why shouldn't you like her? She is the best mum I could imagine."
"She is not." Tiger turned around and glared at Draco. "Mrs Weasley is the best mum there is."
"Maybe," Draco answered, not dealing with Tiger's daring tone. "But I love my mum, and she loves me too. She does everything for me. She's the best."
"But she's mean to me. She hates me." Tiger turned his back to Draco and lowered his head. "I've never had a mum, and yours doesn't like me." He sobbed silently, and tears started to fall down his cheek.
"She doesn't know you that well." Draco tried to soothe him, and put an arm around his shoulder. "I'm sure if you get to know each other, she'll love you as much as she loves me."
"Are you sure?" Tiger asked through tear-filled eyes.
"Yes, I am." Draco nodded and walked Tiger to the bed, where the two sat down.
"But the bed will get all dirty and wet." Tiger tried to stand up again, but Draco held him down.
"It's okay. The house-elves will wash the sheets. Just lay down for a while, okay? I'm pretty tired after all that running," Draco said, and released Tiger to crawl to the middle of the bed.
"Me too," Tiger answered, and crawled after Draco. The two boys lay down together, Tiger's head resting on Draco's chest, and the blonde's arms wrapped tightly around the other's.
-------
"Shouldn't we wake them?" Narcissa asked worriedly. "The boy is suffocating Draco with his weight."
"They're fine, Narcissa. You don't have to worry about them."
"I'm not worried about them, I'm worried about Draco. Before that boy arrived, my son was perfectly fine. And now? Look what he's done to him." Narcissa pointed to the two sleeping boys on Draco's bed.
"What has Tiger done to him?" Lucius asked, a bit angrily.
"First, he made fun of him on Draco's birthday."
"He didn't do any such thing."
"Then he put my son in danger, by mocking the Dark Lord," Narcissa continued without considering what Lucius said.
"If there is someone to blame for Draco's connection to Voldemort, it is me," Lucius countered again.
"And just now he made him drink a wrongly mixed potion and made him act like a…a…"
"A child?" Lucius retorted.
"A naughty little prat," Narcissa ended, and glared at Lucius who glared right back.
"That's enough." Severus interrupted their glaring contest after a few minutes, in which he had checked on the two boys. "They're fine, just sleeping."
"But-"
"No buts, Narcissa. They will sleep till tomorrow, and then we will talk to them and look after their hangovers."
"Hangover?"
"An overdose always ends with a hangover."
"You mean my poor baby will have a headache tomorrow?"
"Your poor baby should have known better than to add more than the required amount of Lactisotum. Now, let's go." With one last look at the boys, the three adults left Draco's room, and went to bed themselves.
-------
Tiger slowly opened his eyes, and closed them again, groaning at the light that filled the room.
"God, I'm dying."
"No, you're not," a greasy voice said.
"At least not now," a second, more cheerful voice added. Tiger opened his eyes slowly, and the faces of Snape and Lucius came into focus. "What happened?"
"What do you remember?" Snape asked softly – as soft as Snape could ask, anyway – and handed him a goblet with a steaming potion.
"Ergh." Tiger took the potion and sniffed. "Hangover potion?"
"You took it before?"
"I made it yesterday as I worked through the fifth year book."
"But it isn't in the fifth year book."
"In Draco's, it is."
"Ah, I understand. Then that's where you found the recipe for the cheering potion. Did you add the Lactisotum?" Tiger just nodded, and drank the potion. He felt it work through his body until it settled in his stomach, where it rummaged a while longer. Suddenly Tiger felt very sick, and he jumped from the bed and ran for the bathroom.
The moment he reached the bathroom, the door opened, and a pale Draco emerged, supported by his mother, who glared at Tiger when he passed them.
Five minutes later Tiger came back, feeling a lot better. He went over to the bed and wanted to lie back down, but one look from Narcissa stopped him. She was tugging her son under the sheets, and stroked his hair out of his face.
"Rest now, Draco. I will bring you some soup, later."
"Thanks mum," Draco answered sleepily. Once he had said that, his eyes closed, and he fell asleep.
Narcissa glared once again at Tiger, before she turned to Lucius and Severus. The two men hadn't noticed Tiger, and were deep in conversation.
"Obviously they both added the same amount of Lactisotum, which means the potion had double the quantity of chocolate in it. They must feel really hung-over."
"Can't you do anything about it, Severus? Draco is really weak."
"I've given him the hangover potion, and that's all I can do. I mixed a somewhat stronger recipe, and that's why they got sick. They lost all their pain in one go."
"But look at him." Narcissa pointed to Draco. "He slept all night, and he's still tired."
"That's totally normal. He will sleep until he feels perfectly fine. Hasn't Tiger left the bathroom yet? Hopefully he hasn't fallen asleep with his head down the toilette." Severus smiled sarcastically.
"Ergh, Severus, you're evil," Lucius said, but smiled none the less. "I'll look after him."
He went to the bathroom, and knocked. "Tiger?" When he got no answer, he peeked inside.
He turned back to Severus with a confused look. "He isn't there."
"Then he must have left while we were talking," Narcissa said uncaringly, watching her son sleep.
"I'll search for him." Lucius left the room in search of his young protégé.
-------
Tiger had left the room when Narcissa had turned to talk to the men. He was wandering the corridors of Malfoy Castle aimlessly. He had passed his room five minutes ago, and was now on his way down the stairs. When he passed the library, he decided to enter and look up what had been wrong with their potion. He took Draco's potions book and searched for some others which contained the cheering potion – which was only one – and settled down in his favourite armchair. He leafed trough the two books until he found the cheering potion in both of them, and began to read.
After only a few sentences, he felt it extremely difficult for his eyes to stay open. He wanted to know what had caused all this trouble. He wanted to know if they had done something wrong, or if the potion's effect was always this intense…
"Tiger? Tiger, wake up."
Tiger slowly opened his eyes, and stared into the silver blue ones that belonged to Lucius.
"Did I fall asleep?"
"Yes, you did." Lucius smiled at him, and put a hand under his arm to help him stand up. "Come on. Let's get you back to Draco's room so you two can sleep through the aftermath of your cheering potion experience."
"What went wrong?" Tiger asked, while Lucius led him up the stairs.
"You added too much Lactisotum."
"But I read the recipe twice. I knew how much to add."
"As does Draco."
"What?"
"You both added the required amount. That caused the effect you've lived through."
"I didn't see him put it in, so I thought he hadn't done it. I'm sorry. The Lactisotum is really expensive; nothing to waste with such a mistake. I will-"
"You will do nothing, now, but go to bed."
They reached Tiger's room, and the boy stopped. "Come on, Tiger, you can sleep in Draco's room."
"No." Tiger shook his head. "I want to be alone for awhile."
"Are you all right?" Lucius examined the boy, and noticed something was missing in his eyes. He couldn't quite say what it was, but something wasn't right.
"I'm fine." Tiger said, and entered his room. Lucius followed him and watched as the boy fell face first into the bed. He didn't look like he was going to turn over so Lucius approached him, and rolled him carefully onto his back. Tiger had closed his eyes, but the blond could still see the tears that tried to escape. He stroked his cheek softly until the boy opened his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Tiger didn't answer, and turned his face away. But Lucius wouldn't let it go so easily. He put a finger on Tiger's cheek, and turned his face back to him. "Did something happen yesterday?"
Tiger shook his head.
"This morning?"
Tiger didn't react, so Lucius continued. "When you felt ill?"
The boy shook his head again.
"Afterwards?"
Again there was no answer.
"Did I say something to hurt you?"
A shake.
"Did Severus?"
Another shake.
"Narcissa?"
No reaction.
"Narcissa it is, then." Lucius sat down on the bed beside Tiger, and looked at the boy. "She didn't want you to stay?"
"She hates me," Tiger whispered.
"She doesn't hate you."
"But she doesn't want me near her son."
"That's a totally normal reaction."
"Sorry, but I have no idea what a normal family is like. I didn't know that a mother wouldn't like for her son to be happy."
"She doesn't want him to get hurt."
"But I wouldn't hurt him."
"I know that, but Narcissa-"
"She doesn't even know me."
"That's the point; she didn't know you. That's why she is so reserved against you."
"But if she continues in this way, she will never get to know me, and Draco and I will never…" Tiger trailed off, realising what he had just said.
"I will talk to her, I promise. Sleep now. Call me if you need anything." One last stroke through Tiger's hair, and Lucius stood up and left the room.
"Lucius?" Tiger called out before the elder Malfoy left the room. He waited until Lucius had turned to him, and smiled. "Thank you."
"Sleep." Lucius said with a smile, and left the room.
-------
"We need to talk." Lucius entered his son's room, and glared at his wife.
"Ssh... You'll wake him up."
"Then let's go in the corridor."
"No, I won't leave him."
"Then we will talk here, and now."
"Then talk. But be quiet."
"I'll wait outside." Severus stood up from the chair he had been sitting in, and went to the door. When the door closed behind Severus, Lucius turned back to Narcissa.
"What have you said to Tiger?"
"Nothing. What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the fact that the boy is a total wreck because of something that might have happened earlier today, which involved you. I demand an answer, Narcissa." Lucius grabbed her arm roughly, so that she had to look up at him.
"I may be your wife on paper," Narcissa said, pulling her arm away and taking a step back, "but you have no right to treat me like that."
"I have every right to treat you like I want to when you act like a jealous mother hen. Draco is old enough to decide what he wants to do with his life, and whom he wants to be with."
"But this boy is-"
"Is what?"
"He will hurt him. I know he will."
"You can't know that. Tiger is a very nice boy. He might seem a bit rebellious, but he is caring, and he will be good for our son; if not as a boyfriend, then as a friend. Why can't you accept him?"
There was a moment's silence, in which both of them calmed down. Narcissa sat down on the bed, and stroked a strand of hair out of Draco's face.
"I don't want to lose my baby," she whispered softly.
"You won't lose him." Lucius stepped closer to her, and stroked her head soothingly. "He will always be your little boy; even when you're 150, and he's 129." Lucius smiled.
"Lucius Malfoy, don't you dare make fun of me." Narcissa swatted his hand playfully away. "But I think you are right." She leaned against him, and the two of them watched their son sleep. Lucius had wrapped his arms around his wife, and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"They will be good for each other," Lucius said softly.
"I know."
-------
It wasn't until lunch that Tiger awoke the next time, and felt great. His headache was gone, and for the time being, his only worry was the foul taste in his mouth, and the sticky feeling of dried mud all over his body. So the first thing he did when he was fully awake was to take a shower and brush his teeth properly.
Half an hour later, he felt fresh again. He put on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt, and left his room to get something to eat.
When he closed the door behind him, he noticed that the door to Draco's room was ajar. Slowly he walked up to the room and peeked into it. He smiled mischievously when he saw Draco, clad only in black trousers, rummaging through his cupboard.
He inspected the blonde's slightly muscular back when said boy put on a shirt, and his smile grew into a smirk as he took another step forward. But the moment Tiger decided to enter the room, he heard someone speak to Draco.
"You're right; I really don't know him that well." It was Narcissa. Tiger took a step back, but stayed to hear what she said. "And it isn't my decision whether you want to be with him or not."
'Want to be with whom?' Tiger thought curiously.
"But I am still your mother, and I don't want to see you hurt."
"He won't hurt me, mum." Draco wandered away from the cupboard to where, Tiger assumed, his mother was. "I really like him, you know."
'Are they talking about me?'
"But he has a bad influence on you, Draco."
"He made me be polite to the Weasleys," Draco countered.
'They really are talking about me'
"He makes you do what he wants."
"That's not true." Draco's tone became a bit angry. "He just knows how to bring out a side of me I hadn't known about."
Tiger could hear the smile in Draco's voice at that statement. There was a moment's silence before Draco spoke again. This time, it was a bit pleadingly. "Mum, why can't you just be happy for me?"
Another silence fell over them, before Narcissa answered in a calm tone.
"What if you lose him?"
"We aren't even together yet, Mum. Why should I think about losing him?"
"He will be an ally to the Dark Lord."
"He's just pretending, Mum; like me, like Dad, like Severus, like you. He isn't a follower of Voldemort."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know him. Believe me, Mum, I know where his loyalties lay."
"Even if you're right, that still doesn't guarantee that he will stay with you."
"Mum!"
"On the contrary," Narcissa went on, ignoring her son's whining tone, "if the Dark Lord finds out about him, he will kill him without a second thought. Are you ready to risk that?"
There was silence again, and Tiger had to swallow hard. 'Is that why she doesn't want us to be close?' Tiger thought, and Draco obviously had the same reflection.
"Is that the reason why you scare him away all the time? You don't want me to lose a loved one to the war? Is that why you set up Pansy with that boy from Durmstrang in our forth year so that she lost her virginity and broke our marriage contract? Because you knew I liked her back then, but feared that I might lose her once Voldemort was back?" Draco's voice was understanding. Tiger could literally see him kneeling in front of his mother, and holding her hands.
"I'm sorry, baby. Back then, I thought it might be in your best interests. I just couldn't imagine you spending the rest of your life with her."
"But it was your idea."
"That was when you were both babies. Now I know what a bitch Pansy is. I hope you can forgive me for interfering in your love life."
"I could forgive you." Draco began, a hint of mischief in his voice, "if you promise to not do it ever again, and to give Tiger a chance. Please Mum; just try to get to know him. You'll see he is a really nice guy. He is caring, and gentle, he is intelligent, and really sexy."
"Draco!" Narcissa exclaimed.
"His voice bewitches you with every word, and his hands are softer than soft."
"I think I get it," Narcissa laughed, but Draco went on.
"And his eyes... Oh, those eyes. They are full of secrets and mischief, but when you know how to read them, they tell you everything you want to know about him. I could drown myself in them."
Tiger felt his face warm up. He smiled to himself, turned around, and left down the corridor. He never heard Draco's last words.
"I think I'm falling in love with him."
x x x x x x x x x x x x x
A/N – That's it for now. What do you think?