Disclaimer: Not Mine

Author'sNotes: Sorry this took so long. RL and co-modding a fest n Livejournal has eaten into my writing time. Hopefully, you'll all enjoy this chapter...and the cliffie at the end *evil grin*

jamie

xxxx

Draco had to admit that the Ballroom in the Manor looked nearly perfect. Empty, it was a vast room where, when spoken, a voice echoed and a whisper could be heard from one end to the other, like secrets weren't allowed. Draco remembered the times he'd escaped from the house-elves as a child and hidden in here, spending hours running the length of the room in his socks and seeing how long he could skid for before he fell down giggling. He missed that delighted innocence of his childhood.

All set up for the party, though, the room took on a different character, where a child felt out of their depth. Draco admired the table settings, with their crisp white cloths, heavy gold cutlery and the best of crystal stemware. Each place-setting had individually engraved place-cards sitting in a nest of tiny rosebuds charmed golden. Everything was perfectly in place and sparkling clean. As he expected.

There would be almost five hundred people in the ballroom for the party and Draco, though experiencing slight anxiety about hosting such an important event, was looking forward to being the centre of attention.

In the corner, the band was tuning their instruments. A string quartet would have been brilliant, but Pansy and his mother had insisted on something more elaborate that included modern instruments more in keeping with a party for the younger generation, later after all the 'oldies' had left.

Smiling at his mother as she entered the ballroom and gave it a final inspection, he realised once more how very beautiful she was and how lucky he was to still have her. She was in her element in this environment, preparing to host several hundred people in her home. Draco hoped that her expanded social network, and Hortin, gave her many years of pleasure and fulfilment.

'You look stunning, Mother,' Draco said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. 'As does the room, right down to the golden balloons you have hanging from the ceiling.' He smiled because the balloons had seemed like an idea for a child's party, but the mass of gold orbs floating across the ceiling, adorned with lengths of twirled golden ribbons left to hang freely, added a welcoming, festive air to the formal tables.

'They were a lovely idea, weren't they?' She gave him a grateful smile and patted his arm. 'As long as you have a wonderful evening all, will be well.'

'How can I fail to enjoy myself with so many people in attendance and my family and friends here to help me celebrate?'

'Speaking of guests, they should be arriving shortly. Will Harry be joining you to greet them?'

'If he can drag his arse down here on time,' Draco replied.

'You two haven't had another argument, have you?' Draco noticed an irritated frown crease her brow. He hastened to relieve her.

'No, of course not,' he said hastily to relieve her. 'But I swear he takes longer to get ready than I do.'

She smiled. 'I find that had to believe. I seem to recall Pippy telling me only this morning that you began preparations as soon as you rose this morning.'

'That house-elf is getting ideas above his station,' Draco groused, albeit half-heartedly. He was well aware of, and appreciated the devotion Pippy held for his family. If that meant an ounce of familiarity, then Draco would live with that. It was a far cry from the austere, often cruel way in which the elves were treated when his father was alive, and perhaps the elves deserved the freedom to express that devotion.

'You'd be lost without him and you know it.' She patted his arm and looked over his shoulder. 'Here is someone else you'd be lost without.' She smiled knowingly at Draco and, as he turned and saw Harry entering, he understood her comment and blushed furiously.

'I have no idea what you're talking about,' he said. 'So he saved my life a couple of times.'

'One day you'll wake up and find yourself regretting this attitude, Draco.' Her voice lowered as if she was disappointed. 'However, I do not wish to darken your mood for your party, so we'll speak no more of it.' She smiled in Harry's direction and headed toward him.

For several moments, while Harry and his mother spoke, Draco hung back and scowled slightly. Why was it that everyone took it upon themselves to tell Draco what he should be thinking or doing or feeling? Wasn't he an adult that could very well make his own decisions? Hadn't he managed to transform his family's fortunes, so that, far from being the pariahs of the wizarding world, they were now feted and respected members of the social elite? Something his moron of a father had failed to do. Didn't he deserve some credit for his maturity and judgment when it came to his personal … entanglements? The fact that he'd decided he did need, and in fact did like, Harry was neither here nor there and no one else's business but theirs.

Sighing, since there wasn't anything he could do about it anyway, Draco joined his mother and Harry and chatted idly until the guests began to arrive.

…..

Several hours later and Draco's smile felt plastered to his face. Hours of standing and greeting his guests had required several glasses of fortification in order to be able to bear the handshakes of the men who thought they had something to prove to Draco, and thus gripped his hand so hard it felt like his fine bones ground together.

He also required several handkerchiefs to clean his face, cheeks literally covered in various shades of pink, red and brown from where the women greeted him. He rued that they were not in the finest courts in Europe where tradition dictated the lips not touch the skin.

Still, he had to admit that there was not a sneer in sight; no smartly covered put-downs, no back-handed compliments. All his guests seemed genuinely pleased to be there.

'Draco, thank you so much for inviting us at the last minute,' Tracey Davis said, greeting him like and old friend, with a smile wider than any he'd ever seen on her face. In all honestly, he barely knew her; she'd been a taciturn girl at Hogwarts - no one had known her that well.

'My pleasure. If I'd know there were so many of my old Slytherin schoolmates around I would have invited you earlier.'

'Most of us have been keeping a pretty low profile,' she said, cutting her eyes towards Harry.

Draco bristled; it wasn't Harry's fault they'd all had a hard time. He was about to remind her of that fact, but he caught Harry's expression and sighed. No matter what he said, Harry was going to take responsibility for the situation. Bloody hero. Instead of berating her, he used the excuse that there were people waiting in the line to get her to move along, promising that they'd talk again properly, later.

It seemed to be the same with all the old Slytherins, even Theo. They all greeted him like a long lost friend. Draco could hardly blame them; he remembered what his life was like when the public hated his very name and all that he stood for. With Draco's image having been redeemed, being seen as Draco's friend would benefit their lives immensely. He was glad that he had Harry standing by his side when Theo arrived, because the hungry look in Theo's eyes made Draco realise that Theo had not let his desire for Draco go. Not that he was worried about Theo; he had his new protection bracelet, after all. Besides, he'd always been able to handle Theo's amorous feelings for him.

Blaise arrived as Theo entered the ballroom proper in search of his other friends. He had the Bones girl - Draco could ever remember her first name - on his arm, but it appeared like he might have to, as this was the third or fourth date they'd been on and Blaise looked smitten.

'Theo looked at you like you were a very tasty morsel he was dying to devour,' Blaise said when they'd all greeted each other.

'If he continues to look at Draco like that, I might need to have a talk with him,' Harry said.

Draco laughed. 'No you won't. He's had a crush on me since Hogwarts. He's harmless.'

'Nice to have your very own hero on hand, though,' Blaise quipped.

Draco swatted him. 'I can look after myself, thanks.'

'When you don't fall apart in a panic.'

Draco's mouth dropped open. 'I do not panic,' he said, affronted. 'You try living while someone is trying to kill you and see how you cope.'

Blaise held up his hands. 'All right, I'm sorry; I was only teasing you.'

'Well, find something funny to tease me with,' said Draco. 'Because that certainly was not funny.'

'Like how cute you and Harry are together, perhaps?'

'Do you want me to tell Bones, here, how many people you've slept with before her?'

'Oh, she knows,' Blaise responded, but his eyes were guarded. Draco smirked.

'How many men?' he said and knew he'd scored a victory with that one. He'd bet Blaise had not admitted to sleeping with any men at all.

'You've slept with men?' Bones asked, her eyes wide as she'd looked at Blaise. But far from appearing disgusted, as Draco, and obviously Blaise, had expected, she'd looked curious and blushed just a little.

Harry laughed beside Draco, while Blaise stuttered, clearly unsure of how to answer.

'Oh, Susan, put him out of his misery,' Harry said, still chuckling.

Susan! That was it. Draco would have to remember that name.

'Blaise, I don't mind if you've slept with men, as long as you don't mind that I've slept with other girls,' Susan said. Draco grinned; this girl had potential after all. Even if she had been a Hufflepuff.

'You have?' Blaise recovered and looked as if he'd just found buried treasure. He hooked his arm through Susan's, waved vaguely to Harry and Draco, and dragged her off, leaving them to continue greeting guests.

'She's a dark horse, that one,' Draco said to Harry.

'Well, if you'd known her through school like I did, you'd have known these things.'

'We weren't exactly known for courting cordial relations between the houses.'

'I know. Hence finding out this late that people aren't what you expect them to be.'

Draco found that he couldn't do anything but agree. The turns his life had taken in the past months had definitely shown the truth in Harry's statement.

…..

Once the exquisite main course had been served, enjoyed and removed, the band began to play and several couples took to the dance floor. Draco would have loved to dance with Harry, but Harry backed away, telling Draco that they'd have their own private dance later because he didn't want to make an idiot of himself standing on Draco's toes all the time. This little show of vulnerability made Draco smile inside and he didn't push it; he'd have Harry all to himself later. Instead, Draco escorted his mother to the dance floor and enjoyed her look of pride and happiness while he guided her through the steps. When the song finished, Hortin politely cut in, and Draco happily relinquished her into his capable hands, telling her he'd see her for dessert and the speeches later in the evening.

Draco noticed one of the Creevy brothers running around, taking publicity shots for a newspaper. Draco could never remember which was the one who died, but as he never called him anything but 'Creevy', he supposed it wasn't really important to remember which one it was.

'Draco! How about a picture of you with all of your old school mates?' Creevy called out, brandishing his camera around like a wand.

Draco agreed, thinking it a perfect opportunity to bestow some of his popularity on his old Slytherins. 'Only if you guarantee that this shot will be in the paper,' he responded.

'Sure! Anything for you, Draco.' Creevy smiled back at him with the look of one besotted.

After these pictures, Draco was going to find a nice quiet corner in which to rearrange his face and give his tired muscles a rest. Who knew that being so much in demand and required to be at the top of his game for so long would be so tiring?

After casting around for the motley crew, who, he had to admit, had decked themselves out in all their old finery for the occasion and, as such, did not look out of place, Draco gathered them together, along with Pansy and Blaise, and posed for a few photos. Somehow Theo had managed to worm himself to Draco's side and had his arm snug around Draco's waist. Draco was uncomfortable with how familiar Theo was being, but he elected to act as if it was nothing out of the ordinary and hoped that would be the end of it.

'You lot have scrubbed up pretty well,' Creevy said as he snapped away, the flashbulbs giving Draco spots in front of his eyes.

'As if any of us would allow personal circumstances to get in the way of showing ourselves off to the best advantage,' Blaise whispered from beside him. 'Condescending twit.'

'Just smile and he'll move on to someone else soon,' Draco said just as quietly.

'He'll probably drag you off to take more photos with some other famous people,' Blaise said. 'I think you've won another heart, Draco. How do you do it?'

'My natural charm and beauty, of course.'

'Lucky Potter thinks he's harmless or your photos, along with the photographer, might end up in the wilds of Siberia.'

Draco snorted. 'He's not that possessive.'

'You keep saying that and yet I often see him looking like he's been hit by a thundercloud.'

'When would this be?'

'Every time you get familiar with someone.'

'I am familiar with a lot of people.'

'And you wonder why he has such a dark look on his face.'

'I'm not scared of him,' Theo scoffed from Draco's other side and his arm tightened perceptibly around Draco's waist.

'Good, because I am not going to get familiar with you, Theo,' Draco said, trying to edge a little further away. Really, this hero-worship was becoming a little tiresome, now. It was fine from a distance – they could look but not touch, and of course Draco played that up. As long as it was kept at a distance. Draco wouldn't risk Harry's ire over another ill-advised liaison.

'I'll be as familiar as I like,' Theo replied, voice hard.

Draco frowned, not appreciating the tone or the sentiment. 'We will discuss this later, Theo,' he said. Putting Theo in his place would be best done away from the glare of the cameras and Harry's eagle eye. He had no wish to humiliate the man in public, no matter how misguided his attention.

'Hey, Draco, no frowning,' Creevy called out, stalling any more conversation, and Draco plastered his smile back on for the snapping camera.

When Creevy was satisfied, Theo scarpered off to prop up the bar. Again. Draco spoke with the others for a few more minutes before excusing himself to find Harry and tell him that he was going to have a word with Theo. What he really wanted to do was to find a nice quiet corner with Harry and be on the receiving end of some serious pampering from someone that he wanted to be touched by. However, if he didn't deal with Theo before he was staggering drunk, then he'd lose the opportunity to do it tonight and would have to spend even more time with the vile man on some other occasion. Better to get it over and done with now he had the chance.

Harry was chatting amiably with several Weasleys and Granger. At least Granger was friendly, although he could do without her exuberance at what she considered a new-found friendship. He wasn't sure how the other Weasleys would receive him. He now considered Ron an acquaintance and, despite being quite positive that his father would be turning in his grave if he knew Draco was even considering a Weasley as worthy of his time, knew that in the years to come they might find friendship. As far as Draco was concerned, Ron Weasley protected both himself and Harry well, and had earned Draco's respect. Unfortunately, Ron was on duty tonight, pleased that it would be his last night, but unable to be moral support for Draco facing them en mass by himself.

As for the rest of them…he would try really hard to be polite and friendly, but these were Weasleys and his father had ever had a good word to say about the blood traitors. Ever. He knew his opinion of them had been formed by his father and was probably, no, definitely exaggerated, but there were some things that just came naturally. Still, his father had been wrong about almost everything in Draco's life; perhaps he could learn. He'd learned with Harry and with Ron.

Draco sighed and bravely joined the conversation with Harry's adopted family, although he thought he'd rather be putting Theo in his place than having to converse with Weasleys. Then Harry smiled at him; the one that made Draco's knees go weak. And he placed a possessive arm around Draco's waist and Draco decided that he'd get used to red hair if Harry always smiled at him like he'd risen the sun.

Draco's mind wandered as they made small talk. The warmth and weight of Harry's hand on his waist, occasionally moving, fingers rubbing surreptitiously over his hip, led Draco to think of things he'd much rather Harry be doing with his hand. And those thoughts were making his face heat up. If he wasn't careful he'd be sporting a hard on and wanting to drag Harry into the nearest alcove and ravish him. Or he'd be attempting to deal with an amorous Theo while he was still aroused and flustered and that would be a drastic mistake.

Bloody Potter. Draco made himself laugh at the looks that would appear on the Weasley faces if he tried the same tactic as he had at the AV dinner. Different situation, though: Harry was hardly going to react in the same way; in fact, he'd probably be furious with Draco…Oh, bad idea, Draco. He forced those delicious thoughts aside, instead turning to whisper in Harry's ear.

'Save my place; I'll be back shortly.'

Harry turned to look at him. 'Where are you off to?'

'Just dealing with an over-amorous Theo once and for all. I won't be long, but I don't want to humiliate him in front of everyone.'

'I'll come with you,' Harry said, and the scowl on his face was dark and dangerous. Draco hastened to stop him.

'No, it will only make things worse if you're there.'

'But I don't trust him.'

Draco's eyebrow arched. 'Don't you think I can look after myself, Potter?'

'Of course I do, but someone is trying to kill us, in case you've forgotten,' Harry hissed.

'Theo?' Draco laughed. 'Trust me, it's not Theo. Anyway, I've always been able to deal with Theo Nott.'

'I don't care; I'm coming with you.'

Their voices were lowered but the conversation around them had ceased anyway. 'I am not having this argument with you in front of all my guests, Harry. I can bloody well do this on my own, without you blundering in and lighting a match to what will be a tense situation. Now stay here; you're making a scene!'

To his credit, Harry did stop and look around, giving those around them an apologetic look.

'Besides, I have my bracelet, now,' Draco whispered as he kissed Harry's cheek. 'I'll be safe; I promise.'

Harry still looked doubtful, and while Draco appreciated his desire to protect, it grated on his nerves a little. He didn't like being told what to do, not by anyone. Especially not while he was safe in his own home. He restrained his irritation behind a tight smile and left before Harry could voice any further objections.

Theo was still propping up the bar, though he paid no attention to his drink. Instead, his eyes were fixed on Draco as he politely evaded several attempts to catch his attention on his way over. Draco could feel the intensity of Theo's look boring into him even when he averted his own look to a guest as he moved through the crowd. He knew that inevitably this would be a hard conversation; made harder by the fact that Theo was someone he'd grown up with. Not close friends by any measure, but someone who shared his history. Draco only hoped that Theo wouldn't take this discussion too hard. Damn, Harry was rubbing off on him; he was actually feeling some compassion for Theo. In the past he'd have ridiculed Theo and not cared one whit for his feelings. The last months had made him soft.

'Theo,' Draco said as he approached the man. Many people would call Theo Nott a good catch; he was handsome, and scrubbed up well when he wanted. If not for his family's affiliation with the Dark Lord, he'd have snagged some society beauty and be happily married with a horde of children to carry on the name. Apart from the fact that he was as bent as Draco.

'Draco.' Theo nodded, eyes remaining firmly fastened on Draco's lips. It was discomforting, but Draco very deliberately did not bite his lips or lick them or in any other way indicate that he might be aware of it. He couldn't afford that; not now, not ever. Not if he was to be firm about his rejection.

'Enjoying yourself?'

'Hm. A lot more now I have your attention.' Draco grimaced as Theo swallowed the last of his drink in one gulp. He wondered just how much the man had consumed.

'About that, Theo, I think we should go somewhere private and discuss this infatuation of yours.'

'Be glad to. I would appreciate having some time with you all to myself. We can make up for lost time.'

Draco clamped his jaw shut, refusing to have this discussion in public, but what he wanted to do was shout that there would be no lost time to make up for. Theo Nott was an idiot.

'Follow me,' Draco said, retaining his composure and heading for the door, knowing Theo would follow him. He stopped at the doors where Ron was on duty.

'Theo and I will be in my father's study and we don't wish to be disturbed.' As Theo moved up beside him and placed a hand in the small of Draco's back, Draco glared at him until the smug smile dropped from his face and he removed the offending hand.

'Right-o, Draco. Yell if you need anything,' Ron replied, giving Theo a dirty look. Draco was suddenly thankful Ron would be within shouting distance.

'Thanks.' He gave Ron a grateful smile and led Theo into his father's study, shutting the door behind him.

The music was barely audible. What noise remained was lost in the space of the lofty ceiling or deadened by the shelves of books that lined each wall. Draco was at once aware of how quiet it was in the room. He took a deep breath; the loss of the barrier of noise was disquieting and he felt the first stirrings of nerves. No matter what he said, this interview was going to be difficult.

'Finally coming to your senses, I see,' Theo said, surprising Draco by standing directly behind him while he closed the door.

'What do you mean?'

'That was a very public way of dumping Potter.' Theo's voice was smug now and Draco turned to find that the expression in Theo's eyes was one of intense satisfaction. He moved away from the oddly compelling eyes and shook his head.

'I can assure you I have not dumped Harry and have no intentions of letting him go.'

Theo laughed, sending a little shiver of worry through him. 'You just told your guard in front of five hundred people that you were taking me somewhere for a private discussion and you didn't want to be disturbed. And this was after you had a rather embarrassing little spat with Potter that everyone saw.'

'Draco moved to sit on his father's desk. He folded his arms and crossed his legs, aware it was a defensive position but damn if Theo wasn't putting him on edge with his stupid claims.

'Harry and I fight more often than not. Our friends will think nothing of that little disagreement. They understand that we are committed to each other.' But did they? Draco realised that they really had no idea. Perhaps he should rectify that, after all. Surely he was mature enough to move past thinking he'd look like an idiot for confessing he'd fallen for Harry?

'Then why have you taken me into the study if not to show me how much you want me?' Theo moved closer to Draco, placing a hand each side of Draco, resting on the desk, effectively pinning him in place.

'I thought I was doing you a favour by handling this in private.'

'Doing what?'

'Telling you there can be nothing between us.'

'But there is, Draco. Can't you see how good we are together?'

'Theo.' Draco sighed and shook his head. 'What happened to you to make you like this?' Draco wasn't frightened; Theo's comments didn't scare him; they'd been through something similar back in Hogwarts and Draco thought that if need be he could hex Theo with a few uncomfortable, yet not dangerous hexes, and the matter would be settled.

'I've always wanted you, Draco. Back in school you looked like an angel with all that white hair and pale skin.'

Theo's face was uncomfortably close, eyes searching Draco's face as if to find just the right place to attack with his lips first. Draco felt like he was being sized up to be ravished. He rolled his eyes, tired of all the rubbish; it stunk.

'If you don't move yourself out of my personal space by the time I count to three, I will severely hex you, Theo Nott, and I mean it. I don't know what I've done to make you think you ever had a chance with me, but you don't.'

Draco unfolded his arms and pushed Theo away, deciding not to count after all. This was all getting a bit annoying. He followed Theo as he staggered back, poking his chest with his finger. 'Let me make this perfectly clear for the last time. There will never be anything between you and me other than friendship!' He punctuated each word with a sharp dig into Theo's chest. 'And if you don't back down and give up on this ridiculous assumption that I could ever want someone like you when I have someone like Harry, then you're a bigger idiot than I thought.'

All through Draco's speech, Theo looked surprised and had backed away under the dual onslaught of both the finger in his chest and the harsh words. When Draco reached the end, however, Theo's eyes flashed something dangerous.

Before Draco knew it, he was shoved magically into a chair, ankles, knees, wrists and elbows bound to the legs and arms, and a gag forcibly shoved in his mouth. Fuck! When he overcame his shock enough to pay attention, he noticed Theo had his wand in his hand. He must have drawn it while Draco was berating him.

Draco still wasn't too frightened, more angry as hell. He had his bracelet on which would alert Harry to the fact he was in danger, and then he'd come to the rescue with the full Auror guard. He tried to call out, but the gag muffled any sounds. He also tried to pull his arms free from the bindings, but after several moments of struggle, gave in as Theo had ensured that they were firm and he would not be able to break free.

Draco scowled at Theo, still admonishing him through the gag. Theo ignored him, turned and cast several complicated silencing and locking spells at the door, which did make Draco pause. Those spells were ones he'd never heard before, but surely as an Auror, Harry would be able to find his way past them? What if he couldn't? Fear seized Draco and he began to struggle in earnest, heart thumping loudly in his chest and the alcohol he'd consumed that night souring in his stomach.

Theo's triumphant expression neared and Draco was engulfed in the alcoholic fumes of Theo's breath. The thing that made fear chill to dread and a cold sweat break out on his forehead, that frightened him more than being bound, more than the pain of the bindings digging into his wrists, and more than seeing Theo thinking he'd won, were the words Theo spoke next.

'Who ever said I was giving you a choice, Draco?'