Cooking and a Visit
.Harry was leaned over a cutting board attempting to finely chop some garlic cloves when a voice sounded making him jump slightly and knick his finger.
"Need any help?"Draco asked peering around the dreary kitchen.
"Shite. Umm yeah could you just finish the chopping I don't want to get blood all over the food and am pants at healing spells."
Draco tutted but moved to take over the knife. "You should really practice those, healing spells are dead useful. How bout dittany have any of that?"
"Um no I had a little bit, but think I've used all of it. I'm also pants at potions." Harry said as he stirred the meat on the stove.
Draco shook his head. "I seem to recall you being exceptional during our 6th year at potions." Looking over his shoulder at Harry. He could only see his profile but didn't miss the red blush creeping up his neck.
"Uh, yeah well the book I had was- erm- special. I was using someone else's talents really." Harry said in embarrassment.
Draco's brow rose before turning back to his chopping which was when Harry glanced over at Draco. Mentally noting Draco's hair looked really good in the tossled, yet soft-looking, style he had done.
"Well I can get some ingredients for some basic household potions and brew some things up for you if you like, it would actually be nice for me, something familiar I don't have to use a wand for.
Umm Harry? What is this thing and how should I chop it?"
They both turned towards each other, Draco holding up a deep purple vegetable.
"Oh that's eggplant. Just cut fine slices from top to bottom after removing the head. So their will be little circles." Harry replied motioning with his hands what he meant
"How thin?" Draco asked eyeing the plant in his hands.
"Sorry?" Harry said eyebrows pulling together as he stared at Draco.
Draco looked up at Harry with an incredulous look. "The slices how thin should they be?"
"Oh umm not like paper thin but thin enough their flexible?" Harry replied
Draco stared a moment at Harry. Harry shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. Suddenly Draco spun back to the cutting board. "No wonder your pants at potions you obviously don't grasp the importance of precise measurements." He said as he began to slice into the eggplant.
"Oh." Harry said as he turned back to the stove a flush of embarrassment flushing over his face and neck. "I'll get the ingredients next time I go out. Maybe sometime you could try teaching me the importance of measurements and a few potions." Harry said after a lapse of silence.
"No, be best if we get them together when I'm approved on an outing. I'm guessing you probably don't know how to choose quality ingredients either." Draco looked at Harry hoping he'd not be offended but he looked completely relaxed as he stirred a red sauce.
"You have me there. Hopefully the approval to go shopping comes soon."
The two worked fluidly together as they prepared dinner and before Harry knew it the wards rang in warning that someone was coming through the floo.
When Andromeda stepped through with Teddy, Harry was already standing by the floo. "Teddy! Hey sweet boy." Harry cooed at the baby as he pulled the blanket that had been shielding him from the floo away. Andromeda held the baby out towards Harry and after taking him she pulled her wand from her sleeve , using it to tidy herself up.
"Dinner will be ready in about five minutes." Harry told Andromeda not looking up from Teddy's face.
"And where is my nephew? You said he was anxious to meet me, yet he's not standing to meet me." Andromeda asked peering around.
Harry looked up finally he wasn't used to the stiff voice she was using unless she found out Harry had done something reckless. "Oh he's in setting the table, I think he's a bit nervous and needed a last moment to gather himself." Harry wasn't sure if that was true but he thought it might be and it did exactly as he'd hoped. Andromeda's face softened and a kind smile replaced the firm line her mouth had been before.
"Oh, well let's go join him then shall we?"
Andromeda said leading the way to the dining room.
As they entered the room Harry was again lavishing all his attention on Teddy cooing at him. Draco looked up from the table and his eyes latched on Harry and the baby his eyes widening slightly as he took in how Harry looked with the baby and then his face rested into a small smile. Andromeda watched all this looking between the two before clearing her throat and stepping forward pulling both young men's attention to her. She stepped towards Draco extending a hand. "Mister Malfoy, it's lovely to meet you, you may call me Aunt or Andromeda, whatever you are comfortable with."
Draco reached out to shake her hand. "The pleasure is all mine, Andromeda. Please call me Draco."
"Draco then." She replied with a nod. Both turned away to look at Harry, except he wasn't there.
Harry had returned to the kitchen with a shield charm around Teddy and him nestled in one arm Harry finished up dinner and with a few flicks of wand had it on dishes to carry to the table. Just as he was ready to levitate it in to the dining room Draco walked in.
"Andromeda is at the table. Did you get everything?" Draco asked his eyes latching on to Teddy
"Yes. I was just about to bring it in. Would you like to meet Teddy first?" Harry asked looking between the two.
"Umm I don't know, as I said-" Draco was shifting from foot to foot before Harry broke in.
"Just come here it will be fine." He lowered the shield charm with his hand and then grabbed Draco's wrist tugging him forwards a little and putting his hand over Teddy's belly. Teddy looked over at Draco and blinked owlishly for a moment before his dark brown hair quicky began turning a brilliant whitish blonde.
Draco's eyes went wide. "What the-?"
"Sorry should have warned you he's a metamorphagus. His mum was one. He doesn't really control it yet. Seems he just shifts to what he likes. He must like your hair too." Harry said with a wide smile looking between Draco and Teddy
Draco looked up and smirked "Too? Likes my hair too?"
Harry turned vividly red very quickly. "Umm- I just meant- you know the style is different- er- niceish."
Draco chuckled. "Eloquent as ever Harry. Come on let's get the food out there I'm starving."
The rest of dinner went along flawlesssly and Harry tucked Teddy in a porta-crib in his room before setting monitor alarms and rejoining Andromeda and Draco in the drawing room for drinks. When he returned Draco was laughing harder than Harry had ever seen.
Harry felt himself flush with warmness and smiled wildly as he entered the room. "What is so funny?"
"Oh my, I was sharing some stories of my childhood and the trouble Cissy and I would find ourselves in. Usually by our own doing." Andromeda replied with a tinkling laugh as Draco attempted to get ahold of himself.
"Ah I bet you were quite the troublemaker in your day." Harry said with a grin.
"Undoubtedly. So Harry where is Ginny tonight?" Her smile softening into something more mild.
"Oh. She's staying with George for a bit." He said take a seat in the winged chair besides Draco's.
"Has he gotten worse?" Andromeda asked a dark look of sadnees claiming her face.
"Not really, the family has been taking turns you know and Ginny didn't want to floo back and forth everyday. Besides we are in a little... well tiff... over Draco staying here." Harry said slightly pinking up at the end.
"You are too kind Harry. You make it sound as if I've just come around to visit a friend, instead of you volunteering to take in a death eater criminal." Draco said tightly his jaw clenching.
Harry frowned deeply "That's not how I see you, or our situation. I mean I know I asked to be your care taker but that is because I really believed you didn't belong in Azkaban."
Draco turned a little pink at this. There was an awkward silence and then Andromeda stood. "Well I really should be going it's getting quite late. Make sure to owl me the recipe for that lovely Eggplant Primavera, Harry dear. And let me know if you have any trouble with Teddy. Draco I'm pleased I was able to meet you. I hope to see you again very soon." Both men rose Harry gave her a hug and then Draco shook her hand repaying her regards.
With a whoosh of the floo the evening fept it had come to an end.
"Think I'll turn in." Said Draco giving Harry a nod.
"Yes, me too. I just have to pop in on Kreacher to ask him to make some bottles for the night. I'll silence my room tonight so it will minimize Teddy's cries for you but if you need anything just come on in." Draco gave Harry a nod in response and then turned from the room.