Disclaimer: see prologue
Guide: "Talk", Thoughts, ~letters and other written stuff~
Rating: M for sexual themes and language, slash in later chapters
Betas: jointheclub and Makoto Sagara
Update of beta-ed version: 30th July
AN: As promised this chapter will finally give you some insight to Draco's thoughts about the Altair and what the general Wizarding world thinks about the subject of sexual magic.
Also a big thank you for the new reviews, alerts and favourites.
-~-~- Altair -~-~-
-~-~-by Still waters are deep-~-~-
-~-~- chapter 3 – briefs or shorts? -~-~-
Tuesday, 5th August, 1997, Diagon Alley, Twilfitt and Tatting's
Since Draco Malfoy had signed up for three of the specialized Altair electives in addition to the required Basic Trance-sexual magic course, he decided that it could not hurt to buy himself some new clothes, especially since he had started to grow out of his current ones. Resizing spells could only accommodate a growth spurt of one inch. And it was likely that Draco would gain at least another inch during the remainder of the holidays. And so he entered Twilfitt and Tatting's to acquire some new clothes, not knowing that he was not the only one who decided that today would be a good day to go on a shopping trip. Harry Potter was already inside the shop with his three female friends: Hermione, Ginny and Luna.
While Harry had not left the changing area in the back of the shop for the past fifty-two minutes, Hermione and Ginny brought him shirts, trousers, jeans and other clothing articles to his changing room to try on. Luna said that she would go ahead and pick out the clothing which didn't require him to try them on, like socks.
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"Lovegood, I hope you know that these are men's underwear?" Draco asked when he saw Luna Lovegood holding up a pair of black boxer briefs in her left hand and a pair of blue boxer shorts in her right one with a contemplating look on her face.
"I know: they are for Harry. I simply can't decide what would look hotter on him," Luna answered with a dreamy face.
"Why are you thinking about what underwear would make Potter look hot?" Draco asked perplexed. I already know this she is weird but contemplating what underwear would suit Potter?
"Oh, that's easy. Ginny, Hermione and I have taken him on a shopping trip today to get him a completely new wardrobe and since Harry is busy trying out the clothes the other two are picking out for him, I thought I would do Harry a favour and get him some new underwear."
"Okay," he said disbelievingly. Now, Draco was even more perplexed. Potter is buying himself a new wardrobe? Maybe he has finally gotten some fashion sense? It certainly would be a change for the better, if the clothes he wore at the Altair are anything to go by. I wouldn't mind to have him as my partner for the Altair if he keeps up dressing like a respectable wizard instead of looking like a scarecrow in his old and too big clothes.
"So, Malfoy, what do you think. Briefs or shorts for Harry?"
"Briefs," Draco answered absently, still immersed in his thoughts of how attractive Potter had looked during the Altair.
"Briefs it will be then. Any suggestions for colours?"
"He did look rather handsome in the dark colours," Draco answered her, but still not realising that he was answering Luna's questions.
"Dark colours are a good choice and maybe some white ones too. Thanks for your help, Draco"
The sound of his first name brought Draco out of his thoughts, and he realised too late that he had actually talked with Lovegood about Harry Potter's underwear. Feeling completely embarrassed about the whole ordeal, he turned around and walked over to another section of the shop. Why did I even answer her questions in the first place?
-~-~-~-~-~-~-Altair-a life changing event-~-~-~-~-~-~-
"There you are, Luna. We are finished here. Have you gotten the things you went to get?" Ginny asked her friend.
"Yes, I've gotten him new socks, underwear and also a new hat and gloves for the cooler months, as well as some new scarfs and belts."
"Let's get out of here then" Before Luna decides to show the underwear around. I can't believe that I let a girl pick out my own underwear, Harry thought not realising that he had spoken the last part out loud.
"Don't worry, Harry. I didn't pick them out by myself. Draco helped me decide what kind they should be and also picked out the general colour scheme of the briefs I got you," Luna answered with a big smile on her face.
It was a good thing for Harry that Hermione and Ginny, with each of them carrying a variety of clothes in their arms, had already moved towards the checkpoint so that they were out of hearing range. Both of them would have had a good laugh over it, especially since Harry had kind of stalked Malfoy last year before the battle against Voldemort, suspecting him to be up to something.
"Malfoy picked out my underwear?" Harry asked, bewildered.
"Yes, he walked into me while I was contemplating if I should get you briefs or shorts. I believe he walked over to the shirt section afterwards." Luna still had the big smile on her face.
"Let's join the others at the checkout so that we can leave for Fortescue's," Harry said hurriedly, not wanting to meet Draco right after he had essentially picked out Harry's underwear. It is a good think that the shirt section is situated far away from the checkout and the changing rooms. Let's hope that he is still there.
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Lovegood didn't lie when she said that Potter was here too. But he still seems to wear the too big clothes he usually wears under his robes. But he at least seems to have stopped wearing his ugly glasses. And if what Weasley and Granger are carrying in their arms is anything to go by Potter really has decided to buy himself a new wardrobe. A fashionable one, from what I can make out from over here. Maybe there is still hope for him, Draco thought.
Wait! Are those dark coloured briefs Lovegood is laying down at the checkout desk? Urgh, she really did pick out Potter's underwear according to my previous comments.
After Harry and friends had left the shop, Draco continued with his own clothes shopping for about another half an hour before he Apparated home to the Manor.
"I can't believe that Lovegood made me pick out Potter's new underwear!"
"Did she really?"Lucius Malfoy asked with a smirk from the doorway.
"Unfortunately, yes. It seems like Potter's female friends finally coaxed him not only into getting rid of his horrid glasses but also into acquiring a new wardrobe, if the amounts of clothes he bought today at Twilfitt and Tatting's are anything to go by."
"Interesting. Maybe it would be to our advantage if you would be paired with Mr Potter for your Altair courses."
"If he even signed up for any of them. Considering his inexperience and his Muggle upbringing, I wouldn't be surprised if he would be too bashful to sign up for any of the courses. And the Weasleys most likely haven't taken the time to explain the positive view of the Wizarding world on sexual magic to him to make up for his upbringing. But there is always the hope that Granger's thirst for knowledge will rub off on him."
"It would be a shame if he did not sign up for at least some of the courses. Especially since he is male, powerful magically and if what you have said about his inexperience is true, he is also still a virgin. That combination would allow the two of you to form a powerful bond, which is always a good basis for any form of sexual magic."
Ah, the whole virginity and forming a strong bond thing again. I had always wondered why my father had insisted that I stay a virgin until I was of age and he had the time to have a talk with me about it.
That promised talk or, more accurately, monologue happened the day after I arrived back home from Hogwarts in the beginning of July. It was rather interesting and eye opening, Draco remembered.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-Altair-a life changing event-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Flashback, beginning of July 1997:
After I entered my father's study he bid me to sit down in the chair before his huge walnut desk.
"I am sure you already know why you are here," Lucius began his speech. Not waiting for an answer, he continued. "As you have heard, during the Altair celebration some days prior and as you have read in the new copy of "Hogwarts: A History" you got for your birthday last month, next school year you will be able to register for some new electives classes. All of them teaching a branch of sexual magic.
Among the purebloods, the art of sexual magic is highly respected since only a few are capable of performing the more powerful and advanced crafts like Ritual Magic or Sexual Potions, which require a high compatibility. Therefore, a couple that is highly compatible and excels in those powerful arts has a high standing in our society and is always respected.
Our high social standing and wealth is founded on the fact that the Malfoy family has always been very gifted in the art of sexual magic. That is why the majority of the money we now own was gained by our ancestors through performing advanced sexual magic. To assure that our place in the Wizarding world, and with it our political influence, is secured, we must do everything in our power to make sure that is stays that way."
I can't believe that the majority of our social standing is founded on having sex, Draco thought.
"One way to achieve this is to stay a virgin until the Altair partner is assigned because the bond between the two people is always a lot stronger when both of them are still virgins before the bonding takes place. As a consequence, the compatibility between them is also higher if they lose their virginities during the bonding ritual. At least, this is what the majority of the Wizarding world thinks.
"But our ancestor Thothus* Malfoy has discovered that in reality it is only important that you and your partner own each other's virginities for the bond to be strong and your compatibility to be heightened. But since you do not know beforehand who your partner will be, it is very important for a Malfoy to not have any form of intercourse before the Altair partner is assigned. Afterwards, you are free to have intercourse with your Altair partner before the actual bonding takes place since it will not influence the bond negatively. In most cases, it actually has the opposite effect and strengthens the bond even more if the losing of ones virginity has taken place outside of any bonding ritual." Here, Lucius Malfoy paused and looked at his son.
"So, that is the reason why you have insisted that I was to stay a virgin? I always had wondered why you have never explained your reasoning behind this demand, but because of Altair Black's spell you weren't able to tell my any of this until I was of age," Draco asked his father, finally understanding why he had taken such an interest in him staying a virgin.
"This is correct, Draco. Also, I hope that contrary to me you will be assigned a male partner. Not that your mother is not talented in the arts of Warding and Enchanting, but an exclusively male pair is always a lot stronger than a mixed or purely female pair."
I really did not need to know that my parents perform sexual magic together.
"The reason behind this is that not only is a same gender bond more balanced out because it is possible to not only change the positions in regard to who is the dominant and who is the submissive one, but additionally it is possible to also change the top and bottom status which is not possible for a mixed pairing. That is why magic seems to regard same sex pairings as more equal and therefore also more powerful.
"Furthermore a male-male pairing is preferred because of the peculiarity of the male body. As you already know, it is quite obvious if a man is aroused or if he has an orgasm. Both of those things play an important part in many branches of sexual magic because self-control and with this control over one's arousal and orgasms is a main factor in many of the more advanced sexual magic practices. Additionally, for males, opposed to women, it is possible to penetrate someone else without the aid of an additional instrument, making men even more suited for advanced sexual magic.
"As a result of this peculiarity, the gender plays an important role in the compatibility of two people. It would be a waste if two males own a lot of self-control but end up with a woman, which would weaken the bond. Therefore, the majority of the powerful pairings are male-male couples because most of the sexual magic revolves around self-control and penetrating.
"That is why the branches of Ritual Magic and Sexual Potions are dominated by males because they require a high compatibility, which mostly only a male-male couple, can provide to be able to successfully perform the magic," Lucius ended his speech.
"So this means if I want to become a Potions master, then it would be favourable if I got a male partner for the Altair electives because then I would be able to further advance into the Art of Potion making?" Draco asked. Not that I do not prefer the male gender anyway. They are a lot less annoying then females and, most importantly, I would not have to worry about their periods and possible pregnancies. And not to forget that a fit male body is always nice to look at.
"Yes, having a compatible male partner would be preferable, especially since you will be creating a bond which is strengthened by the fact that you will own each other's virginities. It would be to your advantage to have a male bonding partner with whom you could occasionally brew sexual potions later, after you received your Mastery in Potions," Lucius answered his son's question.
End Flashback
-~-~-~-~-~-~-Altair-a life changing event-~-~-~-~-~-~-
But, back to the present matter, having Potter as my Altair partner certainly would not hurt me. Besides the fact that he is obviously male, I am sure that he is a virgin and his potion skills have also improved in the last year. No, I don't think that it would be a bad thing if he turned out to be my partner, especially if he continues to look like he did during the Altair. He was very easy on the eyes then, and his green eyes... Wait, did he even take Arithmancy? No, he didn't. Shit.
"You are right, father. But, if I got paired up with Potter, I won't be able to take some of my chosen Altair electives, since Potter has taken neither Arithmancy nor Ancient Runes." And I really would like to learn Warding additionally to Ritual Magic and Sexual Potions. Even if I can't deny that I would greatly enjoy performing sexual magic with Potter. "But as long as my partner is male, I do not really have a preference."
"We will have to wait and see who your partner will turn out to be, Draco. But let us hope for the best." With that, Lucius ended the conversation and left the room.
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Thothus*: Thoth – Egyptian God of Wisdom, Time, Writing and the Moon; head of an ibis. I added the -us to make it more pureblood like and worthy of a Malfoy. Thoth alone didn't sound strong enough for a Malfoy.
AN_2: I hope you enjoyed reading this little shopping trip since it was rather easy to write. Draco's talk(s) with Lucius, on the other hand, gave me some trouble. It was hard to find the words for the images in my head. But I hope that you like the first glimpse of Draco's thoughts and have noticed his attraction to Harry and him (mostly) being gay, opposed to Harry being bi(/not caring about the gender of his partner).
Next chapter: the rest of Harry's day, which I moved to chapter 4 so that I could update this part at least since the Gringotts scene is giving me some trouble. (Harry and Draco finally finding out that they are partners should happen in chapter 4 or 5.)