U for Uncomfortable
AN: Evidently, inspiration has struck after getting past my chapter from hell (Slow) and I am in a groove :D That's good news for you guys. Also it helps that my Texas Rangers just won the ALCS XD I was so happy I was waving my arms and smacked myself in the face with my phone. I gave myself a bloody nose D: But it was worth it! WORLD SERIES BABY!
...Sirius and Remus cameos in this chapter :D!
Rating: Eh, K-K+...well, T actually because Draco can't help but cuss and neither can Ron. Defensive-Overprotective!Draco, Insecure!Harry.
All Pureblood customs are based on my own views of what I imagine wizarding Purebloods to feel like. I remember Rowling once writing that Purebloods had many rules and regulations, some frivolous.
Tonight was a big night for Harry. After three months of planning, the engagement party for he and Draco was upon them at the Malfoy Manor. It was a major event; black-tie, big-name Purebloods, and coming with them were the old traditions of blood purity. Harry had invited his friends of course, and it was for this reason and one other rather large issue that he was worried. Harry himself was considered a half-blood, but since he was raised by muggles he had no clue on the customs of Purebloods. And of course there was Hermione, a muggle-born who was practically being thrown to the wolves at this party.
While Harry would never regret his decision to marry Draco, would never want it any other way, he couldn't feel at that times that perhaps he wasn't . . . good enough. In the eyes of these people, he was as good as muggleborn, and that was a dangerous thing to be considered when you're marrying a pureblood. People could deny you entrance to their establishments, blackmail you into unsavory dealings, cheat you out of things that you didn't understand, and many other numerous misgivings could take place all because his parents had been murdered and he'd been placed with muggle relatives. There was still so much he needed to learn about his world. Even at nineteen years old he still sometimes felt like that eleven year old boy standing in the rundown shack his uncle had forced them to when the Hogwarts letters atarted coming in. He still felt like that boy who watched Hagrid tear down the door, stroll in, and reveal his true heritage to him. The same boy who was so lost at the train station, just happening to hear Molly Weasley talking of the platform. That same boy who met Draco for the first time ever in Madam Malkin's, having not the foggiest idea what Slytherin and Gryffindor were.
Harry stood fidgeting in Narcissa's room, the woman flitting around quickly but elegantly. Hermione, Ginny, and Luna were there as well, helping him get ready. Luna was fixing up his face that had a nasty bruise across his nose from a bad slip down the Malfoy stairs. Ginny was giving his nails a good work over, buffing and makin them shine. Hermione was playing with his hiar, that now reached to his shoulder since Draco liked Harry's hair since it curled slightly. All the while Narcissa was explaining certain aspects of the Pureblood world to him and Hermione. "When you meet an older male Pureblood for the first time it's customary to calm them Lord followed by their last name, married or not. Their male heirs or any member of thier family that is not head of the family is approached as Sir followed by surname. If you are meeting a female Pureblood, marriage is a deciding factor in titles. A married Pureblood is a Lady, an engaged Pureblood is Madam, unmarried is Miss and a mistress is called exactly that, Mistress followed by last name. Mistresses are tricky if you don't know the signs, so I will tell you. A mistress to a married man wears a ring on her right middle finger, mistress to a married woman on her left middle finger, mistress to just any Pureblood wears a ring on their left pinky. A harlot on the other hand, wears a ring on their thumb. We do not usually address harlots unless they are the child of a big name Pureblood. Then we simply call them the appropriate title i stated earlier."
Harry was becoming more and more unsettled to more Narcissa explained to him. "When greeting a male pureblood, look them directly in the eye and shake their hand, left to your right. A female Pureblood will expect a kiss to the back of her hand and a slgiht bow. Small talk is also expected, a minimum amount fo time per conversation is three minutes. Any topic, other then the quite obviously taboo, are open; politics, news, rumours." Narcissa turned to Harry and Hermione. Hermione, while still messing with Harry's hair, was soaking up all the information like a sponge. Harry, however, looked decidedly frazzled and overwhelmed. Narcissa smiled and delicately sat on the arm of the chair Harry occupied. Brushing his bangs back she kissed his forehead softly. "You'll do fine darling." She whispered and HArry nodded gratefully. "Right she is Harry. You'll do a fine job tonight." A brisk voice said from the doorway and they all turned to see the newcomer. Molly Weasley walked into the room, carrying a small wooden box and beaming brightly. "You found it?" Narcissa asked, her eyes glowing in happiness. "Yes, Sirius had it at Grimmaul Place." Molly answered, a huge smile spread over her face.
"Found what?" Harry asked form his place on the chair, still trapped by the girls holding him there. "Something left to you for this very occasion dearie. Now, if you would, turn and close your eyes and don't open them until I say." Molly said and Harry hesitantly did as she asked. "Back away ladies, let me get to him." Molly asid and Harry felt the girls shuffle out of Molly's way as she placed something around his neck and clasped it. "All right love, you can open your eyes." She whispered and Harry did. A large intake of breath and a gasp were the only noises in the room. Slowly Harry reached up to touch the small pendant now lying around his neck demurely. It was a small stone set in a cage of sorts made of crushed diamonds and silver. The stone matched his eyes perfectly, the cage having a small bulb at the top for the silver chain, wrapping around the stone, then continuing down into a soft point. It was clearly Elven made and was absolutely stunning. And he knew exactly where it was from. "This is my mum's necklace." He said and Molly nodded in confirmation. "When you were born, Lily, bless her soul, gave this necklace to Sirius for safe keeping for the day you got married." Narcissa said and Harry felt tears spring to his eyes.
"Don't cry Harry dear. You'll look red and blotchy and we don't want that now do we?" Molly asked, rushing forward quickly to wipe a stray tear away. "No, we most definately don't." Harry whispered, smiling softly as he fingured the pendant.
Draco stood on the stairs, fidgeting slightly with his forest green dress robes, waiting for Harry. Ron Weasley stood on his right, Blaise Zabini next to Ron, and Neville Longbottom on his left. His father stood to the side slightly, away from the group The other guests were at the bottom of the stairs, filling the ball room to maximum. "For Merlin's sake Draco, stop twitching!" Ron hissed and Draco scowled at him, but stopped moving. He was nervous, not for himself but for Harry. Purebloods were ruthless at their worst moments even. He was worried that Harry would be ripped apart, worried that he would think it a mistake to marry a Pureblood. He didn't . . . couldn't lose Harry. All of his fears seem to magnify even more when he saw all the women come down the stairs giggling like mad women. They came to stand next to their respective dates, taking hold of their arms. Narcissa nodded at Lucius who cleared his throat then said in a loud, authoritive voice, "Announcing, the intended second husband, Harry James Potter."
As soon as Draco laid eyes on Harry his fears were wiped clean away. He looked absolutely amazing. He wore ankle-lengthed Slytherin green dress robes, a slightly low-riding v-neck showing a glimpse of slim shoulders with Gryffindor gold accents here and there. His face was healthy and glowing, the earlier bruise no longer visible in any way. His hair was pulled back and braided, more gold intertwined in the sections. And around his neck was a pendant holding a gem that matched his eyes perfectly. Draco had never seen anyone look as . . . elegant as Harry. Or as beautiful. Stepping forward he held his arm out for Harry to take when he reached the bottom. Together they descended to the bottom, the waiting mob at the bottom moving forward slightly, eager to be the first to speak to the engaged couple. As it was, Sirius and Remus were at the very front of the pack and Harry smiled at them widely. "Congratulations Harry, Draco." Remus said, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder and giving a warm smile. "Yeah, great catch you got yourself there little cousin." Sirius smirked and Remus subtly stepped on his foot, causing Sirius to give a small hiss. "Behave." Remus said through clenched teeth. "No but really, I'm glad for the both of you." Sirius said and Harry gave a shy smile, hugging the two men tightly.
A faint stirring and low mutters were all that Harry heard when he pulled away and he shifted closer to Draco, nervous. Obviously, he had done something wrong in these people's eyes. Draco wrapped an arm around Harry's waist and scowled. "These men are my fiance's Godfathers. If you have an issue with him showing familial affection for them, you can kiss my arse." Harry snorted, trying to hold in a laugh while a huge gasp went through the crowd. All was silent for a long time, then someone broke into uproarous laughter. Harry stared at Lucius, bewildered by the man's actions. "Merlin help us, my son is turning in a right man he is." Lucius chuckled, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. Narcissa was giggling, winking at Harry discreetly. "You blokes are all so damn stuck in your ways. Merlin kknows Dumbledore is doing acrobatics in his grave from your behavior." Hermione stated, putting her hands on her hips. "So like a mudblood, speaking out of line." A voice whispered and Draco's eyes flashed dangerously.
"None of that will happen here. Now listen and listen good. Harry is the only person I have ever loved, ever will love. And I don't care a single wit that he is a half-blood or that he was raised by muggles." Draco turned to Harry, whose eyes were shining brightly. "It just makes him all that more amazing." Harry wiped a single tear away and hugged Draco. "And that's all that matters."