Hello lovelies! I'm back after a lovely little break from this story. Now we may begin the real knuckling down. The story will be moving much faster now, or at least I hope, especially since I plan to skin writting the negiotiations and just recap in the story itself.
Well toodles, drink tea and be merry!
Chapter 16
Lucius walked around the manor, his hips swaying with each step, his long sensual legs clothed in black fabric, his long torso bare with only the dangling amulet. Severus looked after his lover, watching as the older man walked past him, and into their bedroom, brushing his long blonde hair as he walked through the halls, a dark brow quirked as he stared after the blonde's back.
Draco sat next to his sire, nestled next to the man, garnering his warm and love as a blanket around his destroyed nerves. Looking over the black haired man's shoulder, the small blonde peering over his father's arm in order to read the text the man had picked up, in the library. "Dragon," said the dark haired man, looking out of the corner of his eye,"you could just ask to see the book, hmm?"
Draco blushed, snuggling even closer to his father, before sighing. "I'm not really that interested in the book, papa." said the boy, dropping his head onto the dark man's shoulder, breathing in the scent of the potions master.
Severus put his arm around his son, placing a kiss on the bright blonde hair, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, as he continued to read, his dark eyes roaming the page. The dark haired man sighed, slightly, runningh his long fingers deftly through the short blonde hair on his son's head, as he read, listening as his son nearly purred at the sensation.
"Sev, have you contacted Thor to tell him of Draco's condition?" came the older blonde's voice from the bedroom.
Severus sighed, placing his finger in the text, before turning to look at his lover, a dark brow raised as the blonde stepped out of his room, his long blonde hair impeccably plaited, tied at the end with a black silk ribbon, his fingers working at the buttons on his sleeves of his expensive grey dupioni silk shirt, the mother-of-pearl buttons in the front undone, revealing the toned pale, lean muscled body.
"No, dear, I thought you were going to do that." said Severus, pulling Draco against him, as they looked up at the indecent aristocrat.
Draco laughed slightly, as his bearer huffed, his hands migrating to his hips as he looked at his lover like a petulant child."He will be angry at you for not contacting him, you know." said the taller blonde.
Severus nodded, a small smile curving his lips as he looked at his son, ruffling the teen's hair, before standing, walking passed his lover, and into their bedroom, kissing his lover on the way in.
Lucius rolled his eyes, buttoning his shirt, placing a quick kiss on the boy's head before leaving the room.
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Narcissa was seated by the entrance, her blue eyes staring into a book, their darkened depths seeming to see past the page and into the meaning of the text. She was waiting for the Gryffindors, her back straight, her eyes seeming to only see the words on the page as she waited. She ignored the foot falls of the house elves, their steps too small, measured, and careful to be that of a human, child or adult. She wore a blue silk dress, the dark richness of the cloth sliding against her body, the Grecian style of the dress complimenting the feminine curves she sported.
Narcissa looked up from her book, her piercing blue eyes staring into those of her cousin, one of the only survivors of the noblest house of Black. Closing the heavy tome, she gave him a small smile, her coral pink lips sliding over her lips, exposing her pearly white teeth.
"Welcome, cousin, to Malfoy Manor." she said, as she placed the book beside her.
Sirius snarled, his matching eyes seeming to turn to ice at the mere sight of the blonde woman, a growl escaping his throat at her cold, perfect greeting. Remus wrapped his arm around the raven haired man, his hand landing over his heart, conveying peace to the man. Harry, just stared, his fear palpable as he looked at the exchange between the two relatives, holding his breath at the thought of Sirius loosing his control.
Narcissa smiled, cold, cruel, and calculating as she looked behind the small group, her eyes landing on the red hair and bushy curls of Ron and Hermione, her eyes seeming to become even more cruel, all the more hardened. "I see you have an army of children to run your little war?" she said, though it wasn't a question.
She turned leading the small group through the large entry way, her hips swaying enticingly with every step as she walked, the dark blue of her gown seeming to darken into black, then to the royalist of blues, the shades casting shadows, deceiving them.
They were led into a large library, the ceilings lined with book, upon book, the tomes ranging from large to small, nary a single one unloved, each carrying the mark of their master. The books were piled on the floor, on the Persian rug that dominated the center, stacks of books laying on or near the sofa's, each seeming to be breathing as if by some command they were alive.
Hermione gasped at the sheer volume that room contained, her eyes growing large as she turned in a slow circle, her fingers itching to obtain any one of these treasures, her mouth watering at the knowledge stored within the texts, her mind reeling with the possibilities. She reached out to touch one, to take the ink, the leather, the knowledge with her eyes and fingers, only a hand caught hers, taking her attention off the tome.
She looked into the dark eyes of Draco Malfoy, his hand clasping her's, his darkened grey eyes dangerous."I wouldn't do that if I were you, Granger. " said the Malfoy heir, dropping her hand, his own replacing her's hands on the worn leather, lovingly caressing the old weather worn diary. "Dark stuff in that one, you should stick with your muggle literature, much safer, less broken bones and dead mudbloods.'
Hermione sputtered, the brightest witch in their year, and she wasn't allowed to touch a book! Outrageous!
"How dare you!" she whispered fiercely, her eyes burning.
"How dare I what? Don't forget where you are, Granger." said the boy, taking the old book in his hands, gentling the cover with loving knowing fingers. "This isn't some public library, this is a personal collection that has taken centuries to get--"
"Which is why you should let others read it? Don't be so selfish, Malfoy." said the witch, putting her hands on her hips.
"Listen to this Mudblood!" said the blonde boy, his grey eyes blazing liquid mercury, the magic in the room building." This library is filled with dark artifacts, all cursed against nosy little chit's who want to know the secrets, but aren't tied to me by blood, or creed. If you had touched this," he continued, holding the book aloft, emphasizing his point, "you would have been promptly poisoned and died, because I doubt Severus would have even tried to save you, due to your stupidity, which you and your friends exhibit quite often. Is that clear?"
Hermione nodded her head, his eyes downcast, her soul and heart broken in the briefest second of being unable to touch a book. Draco sighed, his eyes chilling further as he looked over at the gaping group, their eyes on the display that had just taken place, shock written boldly across their faces. The blonde carefully placed the book on the ground, giving the old book one last caress, before turning back to his guest, his icy eyes sharpening, as he took in their number.
Narcissa stepped forward from there ranks, smoothing the boy's pale brow, placing a kiss on his forehead, before she looked back at the small crowd that had gathered in their home. She sighed, tucking a wayward strand behind a delicate shell like ear, her pale hand gently pulling the boy's face toward her, her eyes knowing as she stepped in front of the teenager, her stance strong and commanding."It's not very acceptable for a..guest to just take a book out of the family library, at least not without asking." said the woman, her eyes flashing with contempt.
Draco nodded, stepping away from her, taking out his wand and pointing it at the group of gryffindors that stood in his library. They all tensed, waiting for a curse or jinx to be fired, surprise springing to their faces as he whispered a charm, watching as each one of them changed to a golden color, only to be left feeling vulnerable. The blonde put his wand away, tucking a stray piece of hair behind his hear, before seating himself on a large overstuffed chair, his eyes scanning their bodies, his own tense as if he was a cobra laying in wait of prey. "Please, be seated," said the boy, his eyes staring at them, his hands folded in his lap."the meeting will be taking place in the drawing room in a few moments."
"Why not just take us there? Why bring us here?" asked Ron, suspicion rolling off the red head in waves.
Draco sighed, tucking his feet under his body, blatantly ignoring the dark haired boy, as though he was an insignificant bug, his eyes seeming to stare through him. Harry watched the blonde, following his eyes, catching sight of his potions professor, the dark haired man standing on the upper level of the library, leaning against the railing, his dark eyes watching them as they spoke, his body ready and tense. The dark haired man was wearing a white silk shirt, his trousers an olive color, the entire outfit giving an air of relaxed nobility, pieces of his dark hair pulled back from his face into a small ponytail, tendrils escaping the hold of the plain hair band and framing his face, his dragon amulet dangling from around his neck.
"We're Slytherin, Weasley. We guage the response of those we intend to speak with." came the potion master's dark voice, sliding over them like dark chocolate.
The group looked in the vicinity of the voice, their eyes landing on the 'casually' dressed man, their faces conveying their surprise at his attire outside of the school. Severus walked to the ladder, the only entrance to the upper balcony, quickly skimming his way down the tall elongated stairs, turning to face the group that stood by his son.
Narcissa smiled slightly, greeting the potionsmaster with a kiss on his cheek, before motioning the group to follow her, as she walked about the Malfoy's ancestral home, greeting the portraits as they passed them. She led them to the a room, opening the ancient door to reveal a large rectanglular table, runes carved into the surface, gold embedded in the symbols. Severus and Draco stepped leisurely into the room, Severus seating Draco at the head of the table's second right, motioning for the others to seat themselves on the left. The two groups faced each other, not for the first time, but for a reason far more complicated than the mere turf or pranks that they played in school.
Lucius came in, seating himself at the head, steepling his fingers and resting his chin on the platform his hands made, his face stony and cold. "Shall we begin." said the patriarch, his grey eyes intent on the proceedings.
"What do you propose?" asked Remus, his amber eyes flashing slightly in challenge.
"Seriously? We want Potter to have nothing to do with the child, allow it to live it's life in peace unless something were to happen to a multitude of people then the child would be passed on to Potter. Also that Draco would be allowed to take trait suppressant potions to avoid the child looking much like Potter, in order to protect the child's real identity, of course." Said Lucius, his voice unflinching as he looked at them across the table.
"No!" said Harry, his face and voice frantic, the only reason he had not stood to his feet was because of Remus and Sirius on either side of him, their hands clasped over his.
"Calm down Harry, it's alright, they won't do that." said Sirius, his blue eyes flashing at the elder blonde.
Lucius smiled, leaning back in his chair , crossing his legs and pouring himself a glass a of white wine. "Excellent. We may now begin the negotiations."