AN - So... again with the filler chaps, I'm afraid. I have a vague idea of the next plot that will be taking place, but as I cannot implement it until Christmas time in the story... well. Either way, I hope you enjoy this one. Happy Reading, guys.

Of Brain Impediments and Delicious Anticipation

"Are you going to the ball on Saturday, Harry?" Neville asked, interrupting Harry's perusal of the morning paper.

Harry smiled slightly at his friend and nodded. "Of course. Are you accompanying your Gran?"

Neville sighed. "She wants me too. I'm supposed to be getting prepared to take up the Longbottom Lordship but... I've seen how much paperwork you have delivered on a daily basis. It just... isn't for me."

"It probably wouldn't be too bad, mate. Don't forget, both the Potter and Black Lordships were dormant for years before I took them over, and you have to take into account that I'm married to Lord Slytherin and Heir apparent to the Gryffindor Lordship whenever I take the seat."

Neville shook his head. "Rather you than me, mate. Are you... uh, well, I mean, it's the Halloween Ball, isn't it? Are you going to be alright?"

Harry's smile fell slightly, but he nodded slowly. "As much as I'd rather hole up somewhere with a book and pay as little attention to the day as possible, I have responsibilities that I can't just ignore."

"Hey, Harry," Ron greeted, saving Neville from replying. Harry was slightly surprised when Hermione slid in facing Harry, taking the empty seat beside Neville.

"Ron, Hermione," he murmured, his eyes on Hermione, who was looking rather nervous. "What's up?"

"I... uh..."

Raising his eyebrow slightly at Ron when Hermione stumbled over a reply, Harry asked, "Oh, am I finally going to be informed why my best friends have been avoiding me like I'm carrying Dragon Pox?"

"Oi! I haven't been avoiding you!" Ron argued, frowning.

"No, I suppose you haven't. Hermione?"

"Can we talk in private, please?" she asked, leaning on the table so she was closer. "There's... I need to talk to you, and ask you something and I don't want anyone to hear."

Confused, Harry nodded, grabbing his bag from where it rested at his feet. "See you later, Nev," he called, as he followed Ron and Hermione from the Great Hall. Hermione led them all the way up to the seventh floor, to the room of requirement. Harry, now utterly confused by such a need for secrecy, was growing more and more concerned.

Was there something wrong with his friends that he'd been too busy to notice? Was Hermione ill? Hurt? In trouble?

"What's going on?" he asked as soon as the door closed behind them, leaving them in a small but cosy sitting room.

"I know I've been distant since, well, since you told us you were getting married but more so since the wedding," Hermione began, rubbing her hands together. "You have to understand that it's been hard to know how to act, Harry. I love you, but you're married to a Dark Lord and I didn't want you to get punished or hurt for spending time with a muggle born and I know that you said he wouldn't hurt you but I was scared that he'd take his anger out on -"

"Hold on for a second," Harry interrupted, holding a hand up for her to hush. "You've been avoiding me because you didn't want me to be punished by my husband for spending time with my best friends?"

"Well, yes," Hermione replied, though Harry could see the blush creeping over her cheeks.

He chuckled. "You do realise how insane that sounds, right?"

"You're married to a man who killed muggle borns for fun, Harry," Hermione snapped. "So no, not really."

"Do keep in mind that the marriage was primarily made to stop such things from happening, won't you?" Harry replied amiably. "Also, why didn't you just tell me your concerns? I could have put your mind at ease before any of this happened."

"Harry..."

"For the record, Hermione, Tom doesn't have any say in my day to day life beyond that which directly affects my marriage to him. He has no say in who I spend time with, no say in who I call friends, and he absolutely doesn't have any right to punish me for any kind of wrong-doing, real or imagined. That you'd think I'd allow that to happen to myself is kind of insulting."

"Harry..."

"We're done here, I think. Next time, just come and ask me if you think there's a problem with something. It'd save headaches all around, I think."

Ron snorted when Hermione nodded sheepishly. "I've been telling her the same thing since the wedding, and yet the first time you tell her and she believes you. Bloody typical."

"Come now, Ron. We all know that my word is law. I am the Chosen One after all."

The two young men lasted mere seconds before they were falling over each other laughing, while Hermione looked on, her face red but a small smile tilting her lips up. Harry just shook his head at her fondly before the three of them left the room, racing down the many stares to the Transfiguration classroom, where the barely managed to get into their seats in time for class.

"You're late."

Harry turned to find Tom standing behind him, looking very handsome in formal navy coloured robes. He nodded, his lips tilting up slightly in apology.

"Hmm. The Headmaster wanted to see me before I left. Apologies."

Tom nodded, his hand reaching up to caress Harry's cheek lightly. "You're here now. Shall we?"

"Of course."

The two led the way from the Atrium of the Ministry to the ballroom, Severus walking behind them silently. Harry had offered him the night off, sure that between himself and Tom he would be perfectly safe, but Snape had waved him off, grumbling about contracts and protection and Harry had left the subject alone.

"How has your day been?" Tom asked quietly as they walked.

"Fine," Harry replied. "Uneventful, thankfully."

They entered the ballroom together, each taking one of the offered glasses of champagne from the waiter stationed by the door. Immediately, Harry's attention was caught by Amelia Bones, and he crossed the room to greet her. Tom chose not to follow him, instead making his way in the opposite direction to where Lucius was talking to Cygnus Greengrass.

Harry was only aware of something going wrong when he felt a brief pain in his scar, even through the potion Severus was supplying him with. He turned to find Tom glaring at a Ministry Official, his rage etched all over his face. With Severus immediately at his side, Harry offered a brief apology to Amelia before he moved across the room.

"And you!" The official snarled upon seeing Harry approach. "This monster is the reason your parents are dead, and yet you married him! You're worse than he is! What will it take to make people see that the only way to deal with animals like you is to put you all down!"

His wand slid from its arm holster before Severus or Tom could react. Harry had the Official on the floor, trussed up and gagged. He stepped forward, leaning down to whisper in his ear, "I married him so that no other orphans would be put through the same thing I was. I married him to stop people from dying, to stop the division in the world we all call home. I married him, and I won't have empty minded simpletons trying to ruin the peace that marriage was made for."

Straightening up, Harry looked to the Aurors who had finally got their heads out of their asses. "I suggest you remove him to a holding cell for the rest of the evening. If I see him again, I may not be so subtle in my warning."

Ignoring Tom's outreached arm, Harry spun on the spot and left the ballroom, walking until he found an empty office two corridors down. He sat down on the desk and dropped his head into his hands.

Why, today of all days, did people insist on provoking him?

A shadow outside the room told Harry that Severus was with him, and he was thankful that the older man had decided to give him some space for a few minutes, while he got himself back under control. He'd known, even while getting ready, that it wouldn't take much to erupt his temper, but to have someone so blatantly disrespecting the peace the world was finally falling into would have annoyed him even on his best day, Harry knew.

"That was rather controlled, given the circumstances."

Harry looked up to see Lucius Malfoy cautiously entering the room.

"I won't attack if you come in," he murmured, a smirk on his lips despite himself. "Is Tom okay?"

"Oh, he's fine. I believe worried about you, but other than that, he was rather proud of that display of yours. It doesn't hurt that he was able to keep his temper in the face of such obnoxious behaviour, of course. I believe people will be looking at Lord Slytherin a little differently from tonight on out."

Harry nodded. He could understand the logic in Lucius' words, and he was happy that if there was to be an upside to the outburst of the moron then Harry wouldn't complain.

"You should tell him I'm fine, I just need a minute," Harry offered quietly, sitting up straighter. "I'll rejoin the ball shortly."

Lucius nodded but made no attempt to leave. "He's been concerned about the effect Halloween would have on you, you know. I'm not sure I should be telling you this, but not a few times, he's asked me if attending the ball at all was a good idea. He rather thought you may wish to avoid him completely this weekend."

Harry nodded. "The thought crossed my mind but... I knew who he was when I married him. I cannot spend the rest of my life hating my husband on Halloween every year. It would be... tiresome."

"Quite."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, before Harry took a deep breath and stood up, checking his robes briefly before he smiled at Lucius.

"Shall we?"

"Indeed. I hate to think what my Lord would do should we take much longer to assuage his fears on your well being."

Harry chuckled but followed Lucius from the room, feeling rather than seeing Severus fall into step behind them.

"I hear congratulations are in order," he said conversationally. "Tom informed me that Narcissa and Andromeda enjoyed planning our wedding so much they're planing a renewal for yourself and Lady Malfoy in the summer?"

"Yes, Narcissa is enjoying herself immensely, though I confess I still do not understand why I should care if cornsilk or seashell go well with some colours and not others," Lucius replied with a pained sigh. "Alas, it keeps my lovely wife happy, who am I to argue against it?"

Harry snorted. "If you've even tried to argue with Narcissa and Andromeda then you will forever have my respect. Alone they are terrifying. Together, they are unstoppable."

Lucius nodded. "I am fully aware of that... it is being used against me with considerable frequency."

Reentering the Ballroom, Harry's eyes were immediately drawn to those of his husband. Tom looked uncertain, an expression that Harry wasn't used to seeing on his face and didn't particularly appreciate. He crossed the room without paying any mind to those who called out to him.

Leaning up on his tiptoes, Harry kissed Tom's cheek chastely. "I'm fine. I apologise for worrying you."

"Would you like to leave?"

Harry shook his head. "No. Honestly, I'm okay. We'll stay for the few hours we planned, and then retire for the evening. I've missed the manor this week."

Tom's hand lifted to rest possessively on Harry's back, and Harry leant into the touch.

"I'm proud of you," Harry added quietly, smiling softly when Tom looked down at him, a quizzical look on his face. "For not just cursing the moron with the brain impediment. I know how much it must have cost you for him to get away with speaking to you like that."

Tom pressed their lips together briefly. "It was worth it. I've never had someone defend me the way you just did, Harry. It was a... novel feeling, and you looked... rather captivating in your anger."

Harry blushed, and Tom groaned almost silently. "Come, Harry. We should begin making the rounds, before I drag you home and remind you what that blush does to me."

Of course, the blush only deepened, and Harry had to duck his head.

"Have no fear, my Harry. The anticipation will only make the ravaging that much more delicious when it eventually arrives. I shall ensure it."