As Draco had promised himself, he made it the best week of Harry's life. They attended Madame Malkin's almost every evening, went on picnics together, and just generally got to know each other quite well. And Harry fell in love with him a little more deeply each day. But he was still afraid to take that final step, the one that would let all know that he was Draco's.
It was a decision he would later regret...
(A/N: The authoress decides to throw a monkey wrench into the well oiled machine and laughs evilly as she watches it break apart...)
As was his practice, Draco was out for the day attending to business. Narcissa had gone to visit friends, something that was becoming more frequent as the days went by. Harry discovered Hermione was spending her free time with Ron Weasley when Draco had no need of him and Harry had no need of her.
He was alone when someone knocked on the door to the Manor. A short moment later, a nervous looking servant poked her head into the sitting room where Harry was reading a book.
"Master Harry?"
"Yes?" he replied, glancing up from his book.
"There's someone here to see Lord Malfoy. I tried to tell her he wasn't here but she's very adamant about seeing him. I don't know how to get rid of her."
"I'll take care of it." he replied, frowning.
"I've left her in the main foyer." The relieved servant nodded her head and returned to whatever it was she was doing.
- - -
When Harry arrived in the main foyer, there was indeed a woman standing there. From the backside, she was deceptively thin, and her hair, nearly as dark as his own, was piled high upon her head in tight curls.
He cleared his throat and she turned around. She scowled at him like he was beneath her. Her expression reminded him of the one time he'd seen Dudley Dursley's mother. Not a pleasant picture to say the least. Only this one's nose was slightly smaller. Her dark eyes flashed angrily at him.
"Who the hell are you?" she demanded.
"I'm Harry. What may I do for you?" he answered in a polite tone.
"I told that twit who answered the door I was here to see Draco." she snapped.
"Draco isn't here. He's out on business." he continued in the same polite tone. "I could leave a message for him."
"I'll wait. Go and fetch me some tea and be quick about it."
"I don't think so. Who are you to order me about like a servant?" Harry snapped, becoming angry.
"Because that is exactly what you are. A servant."
"How dare you presume my position in this household!" Harry shouted.
"How dare you speak to me in that insolent tone! I've a good mind to tell Draco to fire you!"
"Good luck with that." Harry snorted in a bored tone. The woman went red in the face. She stalked right up to Harry and before he could blink, she slapped him across the face. His hand flew to his overly warm cheek, eyes wide in shock.
"What the blazes is going on in here?" a cold voice demanded from behind them. Both turned around to see Draco standing in the open doorway, a fierce scowl gracing his elegant features.
"Draco!" the woman squealed in delight, running toward him. Harry looked on in shock as the woman wrapped her arms around his husband's neck and proceeded to devour his face with her horse lips. The whole time, Draco's eyes were glued to Harry's.
Harry could feel his heart dying inside as he watched his husband and the unnamed woman kiss each other to death. Shaking his head in denial, he turned on his heel and ran upstairs to his room, slamming the door and locking it behind him. Tears blurred his vision as he shoved some clothing and toiletries in a single bag. Once he was packed, he took the backstairs to the servants quarters and out the back door. Luck seemed to be on his side as he made his way to the stables. No one saw him as he saddled a horse and took off, not looking back at the place he had come to think of as his home.
- - -
Draco watched the light in Harry's eyes die as he tried to extract the overly enthusiastic woman from his body. He couldn't stop Harry as he ran upstairs.
With a harsh groan, he practically shoved the woman to the floor, wiping his mouth in disgust.
"What the fuck, Pansy!" he scowled.
"What's wrong, Draco?"
"What the hell are you doing here? You were supposed to be in Paris."
"I came back a month early. Mummy and Daddy tried to stop me but I just had to get back to you, love." She tried to embrace him once more and he quickly backed away.
"Don't touch me."
"But Draco-"
"You will address me by my proper title, Lady Parkinson." Draco scowled.
"What's wrong with you?"
"If you had bothered to check with anyone before coming here, you would have realized that I am no longer 'on the market'."
"Of course I know that! You're betrothed to me! Your father decreed it, my father accepted it."
"And, if you had bothered to ask, your father should have told you that upon my father's death, all manners of our 'betrothal' were declared null and void! As such, being the Lord of the Manor, I have a say in who I shall marry." He watched in satisfaction as all the color drained from the already pale face.
"No!" she hissed.
"Yes!" he nodded.
"Who is the silly bitch that deigned to be your wife?"
"You met him I believe." he shrugged, crossing his arms. If possible, she paled even further.
"Him! You're gay?"
"Quite." he shrugged, not really caring what she thought of it.
"But he's a servant!"
"No, My Lady. He's not. He is Lord Harry Potter, adopted son of Lord Lupin and adopted grandson of Lord and Lady Dumbledore. And my life partner."
At that, Pansy let out an almost inhuman screech and started clutching her hair, upsetting the delicate curls. Draco rang for her manservant, who escorted the distraught young woman out of Malfoy Manor.
"And good riddance." Draco snorted, turning toward the stairs.
Now to straighten out my husband.
- - -
Draco was becoming worried. He had knocked on the bedroom door for over ten minutes without receiving an answer. Sighing, he joined his mother for dinner.
It was then that Hermione came into the dining room, looking upset.
"Lady Hermione, what's wrong?" Narcissa asked.
"Hedwig is missing from the stables. I noticed when I went to feed her." Draco stood quickly, knocking his chair to the floor.
"What? Are you sure?" Narcissa asked.
"Yes, M'Lady." Hermione answered, wringing her hands with worry for her friend.
"Fuck!" Draco exclaimed. His mother looked at him.
"You know something?"
"Pansy came by earlier today and she said and did some things that upset Harry."
"What did she do?" Hermione demanded.
"She...uh...kissed me...in front of him."
"And you didn't see fit to stop her?" Narcissa demanded. Draco visibly shrank back from his mother's anger. She was a genteel woman but could be quite formidable when angry.
"You know how Pansy gets when she's stuck on an idea! She thought we were still betrothed for fuck's sake!"
"Draconis Samuel Xavier Lucius Malfoy!" Narcissa nearly shouted. Draco cringed and Hermione would have giggled if she wasn't concerned about Harry.
Nigel poked his head in the door.
"Mistress?"
"Yes?" Narcissa answered, still glaring at her only offspring.
"Lord Lupin is here to see you and Lord Draco."
"Bring him here, please, Nigel."
"Yes Mistress."
There was a tense silence as mother and son stared at each other.
Remus burst into the room, heading straight for Draco. Before the other man could draw a breath, Remus had his hands fisted into the lapels of Draco's coat and was lifting the shorter man off of his feet.
"What the hell did you do to my son?" Remus growled in anger, his amber eyes flashing.
"You've seen Harry, Remus?" Narcissa asked.
"He came galloping up about 4 hours ago, crying and babbling about something. All I got out of him was something about a Parkinson bitch and his cheating bastard of a husband! Broke my heart listening to him cry like that. He didn't even cry like that when his parents died! And. It's. All. Your. Bloody. Fault!" With each word, he shook Draco around like a rag doll.
"Put him down, Remus and he'll explain!" Narcissa stated, placing a calming hand on his arm. "Please, Remus." she added softly. That seemed to calm the man down and he released the young man in his arms.
Once everyone was seated, Draco explained what had gone on and what he'd seen and heard when he arrived home that afternoon.
When he was finished, Hermione was furious.
"I'll snatch every hair off her head until she's bald! How dare she!" she snapped. Narcissa silently agreed, and was determined to pay Lord and Lady Parkinson a visit the following day.
"Lord Lupin. I meant no harm to Harry. I love him. May I talk with him?"
"Draco. I would love to say yes, but it's Harry's decision if he wants to talk to you or not. I will tell him what we discussed here, but after that..." Remus shrugged.
"I understand." Draco sighed. "Excuse me. I have some work to do." He turned on his heel and left the room.
"Oh dear." Narcissa sighed.
"What?" Remus wondered.
"Draco's brooding again. He's going to lock himself in his study and drink port until he passes out."
"Should we stop him or check on him or something?" Hermione wondered.
"He'll be fine. He'll have a horrendous headache come morning but he'll be fine."
"I must get back to Harry and make sure he's okay."
"Please tell Harry we miss him." Narcissa told him. He gazed at her softly before taking her hand and kissing it gently.
"Until tomorrow, My Lady." he smiled at her. Hermione saw the expression for what it was and resisted the urge to smile. Bowing to the two women, Remus took his leave.
"So. How long have you been in love with him?" Hermione asked after a moment. Narcissa looked at her with a frown. Hermione simply gave her the same look she used on Harry and the elder woman sighed.
"I don't know really. When Lucius died, Remus was the only one I could take comfort from. He understood what it was like to lose a loved one, as he had just lost Sirius the year before Lucius died. We were always friends and I guess it just turned into something more."
"He loves you as well. I could see it. Have you told him how you feel?"
"No. I'm scared it would ruin our friendship."
"I think you should chance it, Lady Malfoy." Hermione encouraged. "Life is too short to take for granted."
"You're right, of course." Narcissa smiled. She looked in the direction Draco had disappeared. "I only hope those two can work things out to save their love. A love like theirs is too precious to lose."
"Agreed. It's all in Harry's hands now." Hermione sighed.