Harry took a deep breath as he walked downstairs. He was just glad the twins were there with him. He at least had two friendly faces with him. He found Draco and his friends as well as his husband in the sitting room. Harry saw Draco's friends eying him up and definitely felt cold current running up his spine. He was reminded only Theo and Daphne had wanted him dead and they were gone. But none of them had ever been remotely friendly. Severus had tried to tell him Blaise was a good guy. And he knew Blaise had been friendly of sorts. Likely because his parents were never spies. But he was not sure that was going to get him through this. He just wished he could ignore his birthday this year. He assumed he had to face them some time. He was going to be in their house. Draco was the only one on the team. And he would not be living in the dorms. His classes were mixed with being an NEWT student. But he assumed sitting at Slytherin and having someone to talk to might be easier if his house did not hate him. The twins had said Ron was still behind him but he wondered if that would continue. Especially when Ron found out he would be playing seeker for the rival team. Ron's friendship had always been quite fickle at the best of times. The tournament had proved that once again.
Lucius came over to him when he saw Harry was not coming any further. Harry had no idea what was expected of him. This definitely was not a usual birthday. There was a pile of gifts. He wondered if they were all booby trapped. He could only imagine what Draco and his friends got him. Or his husband for that matter. He knew the twins would have products for him. Harry had after all given them his tournament winnings. They had bought their shop that summer because of him. Well part of him. He would always be a silent partner in the business. He didn't think he would share that with his husband. Lucius would likely not be impressed at all.
Lucius took his arm. "Everyone I guess we should properly introduce the birthday boy for the first time, my young husband and new Slytherin, Harry Malfoy."
Harry tried to free his arm from his husband. "Like they were not already aware of that. Thank you though for reminding me."
Drawing him into his arms Lucius decided to make another show. Harry refused to allow any other reaction when Lucius pulled away. Harry eyed the others up. He suddenly felt like he was in a room full of jackals and not snakes. As his husband moved away he almost wished he had not. He assumed the snakes would not have tried anything in front of his husband. Harry never thought he would look to his husband for protection
Pansy looked him up and down. "Marriage seems to be doing you some good. You no longer look like a mangy mutt. The clothes seem decent enough."
Harry smirked at her. "Unfortunately I can not pull off the pampered peacock look like Draco just yet. Maybe I need you to pick out my clothes like Draco."
He heard a slight chuckle. And he was surprised to see that it was coming from Blaise. And even Crabbe. Though Crabbe left off the laughing when Draco glared at him. Blaise just shrugged when Draco muttered something angrily at him. Harry was more the aware that Blaise was Draco's best friend. It was probably the only reason people knew him. He did not play quidditch and was not a bully so other then Draco he tended to fly under the radar.
Draco pointed at the table. "Might want to eat up. We spend our birthdays playing quidditch. Though it might not be fair you and those two against us."
Harry snorted. "Though putting Pansy on a broom might be a bit scary I can fly circles around you Drake. Even if I let you use my bolt and took your Nimbus."
Feeling like things might need to cool Lucius did direct them over towards the food. Harry was definitely surprised to fid muggle treats like pizza and hamburgers. He found himself having a half way decent chat with Blaise though Draco and Pansy kept shooting comments at him and the goons just glared at him. Harry was a bit cautious about opening the gifts after but he found mainly vouchers, some pranks from the twins and a book on quidditch from Blaise.
After some gloves from Severus Harry opened his husband's actual gift to him and found a new broom. Not just a broom. The thunder bolt. It was the top broom out there. And he could see there had been some alterations made to it, professional ones.
Lucius kissed him along the back of the neck. "I thought my husband could use a top broom. We want him to help Slytherin win this year. Besides Draco got one."
Harry was forced to admit it was a great gift no matter what team he was being forced to use it for. "Thank you."
Fred and George came to his side and started talking brooms with him and the game. He was reminded they were no longer on the team. They would not have to beat him into a pulp. He had to admit he was grateful that only Katie was left o the original team. He was not sure how Oliver and the other old team would react. He knew they would still have been his friends on the side but would have pummelled him on the field. Harry technically had to try out for the team but he doubted between his last name and his reputation that he would not make the team.
As they headed out to play Harry and his brothers took the air against Blaise, Draco and Goyle. Goyle looked over at him. "You know we will clobber you up here."
Harry snorted at him. "You actually have to get your broom off the ground first Goyle. You know the muscle you need up there is your brain, you might want to exercise it."
They took to the air with Harry and Draco player seekers, Blaise and Fred as chasers and Goyle and George playing keeper. Goyle almost fell off his broom twice and though the twins were much better seekers they had no problem out playing Blaise and Goyle who usually did not fly. And even matched on new brooms Harry flew circles around Draco. But there was no surprise there for he had out flown Draco on his 2000 when Draco had a 2001.
When they finally landed Draco grudgingly admitted. "Fine you can out fly me. I want to be keeper anyways. Good thing you're on our team this year."
Harry smiled slightly. "Good thing. Slytherin might win their first cup in what six years, the year between me and Charlie being seekers? You should thank me."
During dinner the talk was still a bit tense but Harry managed talking with Blaise and even the talk with Draco was slightly friendly though competitive. Pansy and the goons were slower to come around but if he could win over Draco he was sure to bring the other three over. He was not sue he wanted to win over Draco but he assumed that it would make the ext two years some what more bearable for him.
Harry was sitting and talking with Blaise after some cake when he noticed his husband kept watching them. He could not possibly be jealous. He had wanted Harry to make friends with his new house. And he was going just that. He knew Blaise was bi but his husband was a fool if he was jealous.
Lucius came over and whispered as Blaise was about to leave with the others he whispered. "I don't like my husband hanging all over other men."
Harry turned to look at him and whispered back. "I thought you'd be happy I was making friends. Never took you for the jealous type Lucius."
The anger in his husband's face told him he had definitely hit a nerve with him. He could not understand. His husband had invited them. He wanted Harry to make friends with the snakes. Surely he had not expected Harry only to make friends with Pansy and Millicent. And the goons were no chance in hell. He thought he would actually have made his husband proud. He did actually please one Malfoy but it was Draco who came his way when the others left.
Draco smirked. "You seemed to face the fire well enough. Keep it up and we might be willing to let you hang with us."
Harry returned the smirk. "Play nice and I might let you hang with me. I am the new Malfoy on the block. I might just be the new Prince of Slytherin."
Though Draco sneered for a moment Harry could not help but notice a hint if a humorous smile pass over his lips. Even Severus was. He was quite proud of how well Harry had handled it. He was expecting Harry to have pranked the snakes. Harry would not have won any respect from them. Going toe for toe with Draco on the other hand was another matter all together. Lucius though was steaming and definitely did not want Blaise any where near his husband. And Harry knew it. And Harry definitely knew he could play that quite easily.