Ryuu Delacour : Chapter Three
Disclaimer: Draco would get many more hugs if I owned Harry Potter.
AN: This update was only a couple hours after my last one, so make sure you're reading the right chapter!
Draco flipped through the book Harry had brought to him from Fleur.
"It's necessary that you read the stories that are common in France so that you aren't caught unawares," he had told him.
"My family does have French roots, Potter. I'm not without culture."
Harry had smiled amusedly at him.
"Of course, pet. Je ne doute pas de toi, mon beau dragon." (I don't doubt you, my beautiful dragon.)
Draco blushed, looking down at the books in his hands.
"Are you studying French as well?"
Harry's smile was gentle.
"Word has traveled that Fleur's cousin, Ryuu Delacour, is coming to Hogwarts in a few weeks. It's not a secret that I have spoken to him before, as Fleur didn't want him to come here a stranger. Rumour has it, the young man has caught my eye and is entrapping my heart—and I mean to entrap his as well."
Draco sucked in a breath.
"A quite believable cover for our time spent together, I suppose."
Harry smirked, his eyes twinkling.
"Silly boy," he scoffed. "Don't you know that I am a pitiful liar?"
Harry leant down to press a soft kiss to his forehead.
"I'll be back shortly."
-HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM-
The floo flared a bright green, startling Narcissa from her evening tea. It was Saturday, and she was lounging in the sitting room reading a book she found in the library titled Lolita. It most definitely offended her delicate sensibilities, and she most definitely was enjoying it.
A tall man stepped forth out of the flames a tad ungracefully, but he flicked his hand to clean himself and she couldn't laugh so frozen as she was by his casual display of power. Even more shocked was she when the slight form of her son stepped out of the flames, only to be steadied easily by the young man with a hand on the small of his back: a decidedly intimate gesture.
She watched as her son's pale cheeks filled with blush, him leaning back slightly into the bigger man's hand. The man was easily a head and a half taller than her son, his skin tanned and his build strong. His robes were of a formal cut, looking regal and powerful despite his young age.
Her assessment of him was broken when her son beamed and ran towards her.
"Mother!" he shouted in greeting. "I'm so glad you made it okay."
Harry rose an eyebrow at him, following after at a much slower pace.
"I told you she would be fine, dragon. If I had known you were worried so, I would've had held a floo call as soon as she was settled."
Draco blushed again at the light admonishment in Harry's tone, not quite sure why he reacted to the man in such a way. He couldn't help but find comfort in Harry's reassurance that he would've gone out of his way to make him comfortable.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't wish to bother you."
Harry laughed lightly, gently guiding Draco to sit on the couch before turning to the Lady of the cottage.
"You are never a bother, silly boy," he rebuked before shifting his gaze to Lady Black. "Lady Black, pleased to meet your acquaintance. I am Lord Potter, but you can just call me Harry. I trust that the cottage is to your liking?"
She found her seat, Harry following her example and taking the chair facing the two blondes.
"It is sufficient."
Harry nodded, raising his fingers to snap.
"Dobby, would you mind serving up some tea for the three of us?"
Dobby bobbed his head, big ears flopping up and down.
"Yes, Master Harry Potter, sir. Right away, sir."
Harry turned to the prim woman.
"Dobby will serve both you and Draco this month, but once he is able to rejoin Hogwarts under his alias, Draco will use Kreacher instead as well as the Hogwarts elves," he informed her. "Just so you are aware, Dobby is a free elf. He will aid you because I have asked it of him, but you are to treat him with kindness and respect."
She tilted her head in acknowledgement, thanking the elf once he arrived with their tea.
"Dobby will be happy to serve Lady Black and Master Potter's intended. Most happy indeed."
Draco's eyes were wide, and even the always stoic Narcissa looked shocked.
"He isn't my intended yet, Dobby. I have yet to ask him to undergo courtship," Harry explained, though he looked amused at best.
Dobby shook his head.
"Mother magic has deemed him yours, Master Harry Potter, sir. Little Master is."
Draco gaped at him before choosing to scowl and huff.
"Little Master, indeed," he growled under his breath, Harry laughing openly before Dobby disappeared.
"It seems you are not as opposed to my affections as I forsaw," Harry noted, reaching out to soothe Draco's scrunched forehead. "Perhaps I should hasten the process, so that I may court you sooner…"
Draco gaped at him, but Harry had already moved on, standing to address Narcissa respectfully.
"Speaking of, I wish to ask for your permission and blessing in courting your son, Lady Black."
Narcissa jerked her head up and pursed her lips.
"As I'm sure you are aware, Lord Potter, you hold the house of Black. It is up to you over who can and cannot court my son."
Harry gave her an easy smile.
"Harry, if you please. I gave that right to you when I assigned you your new title, to protect Draco from my own possessiveness. If Draco wishes to be courted by another, it will not be my right to stop it."
He could've swore he saw a smile start to form on her thin lips before she wiped it away.
"I, Lady Black, give my full permission and blessing upon the courtship of my son and heir, Draco Malfoy, by Lord Potter, with the intent to bond."
Draco gasped, looking to Harry in surprise when he didn't even blink at the addition.
"I will do my best to be worthy of him, though I know that I never will be."
Draco stood, a bit overwhelmed, the words spilling from his lips.
"You were serious? You want to court me? You actually like me?"
Harry frowned at him.
"I would be honored if you would allow me to make you mine, Draco. I would never lie to you about that."
Draco nodded slowly, and Narcissa patted his hand gently.
"I suppose… we outta go," Draco mumbled, looking to Harry for his lead.
Harry nodded.
"I'll leave the connection open between here and Draco's quarters in the Room of Requirement so that you can travel back and forth. I don't wish to keep you prisoner, Lady Black."
The woman's face relaxed as she took in the soft smile on her son's face.
"You may call me Narcissa, Harry."