"Sorted Too Young"
Dumbledore tells Snape, "Sometimes, Snape, I think we sort them too young."
CHAPTER 23 – DINNER: LE GAVROCHE
Draco vowed to enjoy himself, in spite of his sadistic father.
Harry joined Draco in the sitting room. They just sat in quiet as if last night never happened. Just as the silence started to grow awkward, Draco spoke up. "The aurors can't really protect this house. They don't have a connection to it. They can cover it with a blanket of protective magic, but my … Lucius can break that."
"Well… shit!" Harry hated Lucius more now. "Any suggestions what we can do?" Hermione out with Ron was obviously not helpful so Draco was his next source. He knew Lucius best anyways.
"Yes. The houses of the old families are almost like living things. They have been imbued with so much magic over the generations that they take on a bit of a life of their own. The magic is old magic and responds only to the master of the house, bound in by blood. If you have a blood connection, then you can change the protections on the house. And you must have some kind of blood connection or Kreacher wouldn't answer to you at all." His reply was an excellent answer to Harry's situation, but left more questions for his own.
They made their way to the room with the family tree to thoroughly inspect it. Sure enough, they found a Potter had acceptably married a woman of the Black Family. "Potter is also a pure blood family. You are the last Potter I know. But if Potter takes over Black, then the Black family magic will start to disintegrate. So, for the moment, you can make changes to the house protections. But unless you take on the name of Black, they won't last. Understand?"
Harry nodded. It made sense. Damned old family blood magic. "I don't want to become a Black. I had hoped to rebuild my family."
"Would you consider, as Teddy's godfather, to endow him with Black inheritance? And maybe we can get the Black family name tacked onto his own? Then one day, he could inherit this and carry on the Black family name?" This is part of what Draco had wanted to discuss with Harry.
Harry thought about it. He wanted to do something for his nephew, but he also didn't want to lose his only connection to Sirius. "Let me think about it for a while, ok? For now, how do I change the magic? And… can I un-disown members on the family tree?" Harry pointed to several of the blasted out names.
Draco looked at the family tree again. Sirius was blasted out and so was Teddy's grandmother, Draco's Aunt Andromeda. "I think so? It might depend on their reason for disownment and what the earlier family laws are, if there are specific rules for undoing such things."
They began with learning how to sense the energy of the house and how to read the layers of magic. The goal was to find the core point of the house, which wasn't necessarily the center of the house. That core point was where Harry could access all the house magic and make amendments, changes or additions. It turned out to be where a certain painting was. "Oh no. I can't do it. She's bloody well going to scream. I have her covered for a reason, Draco."
"Then stand aside. She shouldn't have anything to complain about seeing me." Draco took a firm stand in front of the painting. Harry pressed himself out of sight beside the painting and gripped the cloth cover. He cringed as he yanked to expose the painting. The witch wailed. "Shut it you old dead bat!" Snarled Draco. "Draco Malfoy, son of Narcissa Black, honoured in this house. How dare you wail at me. Shut it or I will cast incindio and end every scrap of you." Draco brandished his wand and the painting silenced. Draco smirked, "Better." He and Harry forced it off the wall and face down on the floor.
The idea was to see the point of concentrated energy and try to manipulate it a little. Instead, there was a door hidden behind the painting. "Don't touch it!" Draco called. "Never touch strange things in the home once owned by dark witches and wizards. It was hidden, so it is likely protected. Use your wand always before you ever touch." Malfoy Manor was full of such dangers for unsuspecting fools trying to be thieves. And the most important things or places were protected even more fiercely. Some places the Dark Lord had no access. In anger, the Dark Lord destroyed many things and left behind an equal amount of curses. Who knew what went on in The Black family.
Harry waved his wand, "Alohamora." There was a click.
Draco flicked his wand and the door rattled but did not open. "Ansi sientivizi." Runes and strange symbols suddenly glowed around and on the door.
"What the? What did you do?" asked Harry.
"I bade it to reveal its magic. Damned if I can understand it all though, let alone undo it." Draco stepped closer and studied it. "These are the runes of sealing. This one is part of some deadly curse for wayward fools. We have it in my home. These are the signs of blood binding. The rest, unique to the Blacks and dark magic."
Harry summoned Kreacher an commanded him to tell them what was there. They both expected to hear something like the dungeons. Kreacher cowered with his answers. "No no. I's not allowed there. Is the Master's room. Is the heart of Black." Well, it wasn't a dungeon, but Kreacher had never been in there. It was a room though. Draco concluded it was likely a vault with the family secrets.
"So what do I do, Draco?" asked Harry unsure whether to give up on this or not.
Draco mulled it over as he searched his memories for the right spells and runes. "Use your want and change this rune here to one that looks like this." He showed the rune in light with his wand, letting the rune float in the air for a few seconds. They decided the make the spell changes, but not breach the door, for now. Draco walked Harry slowly through some changes that he could advise. Keying it to not allow Lucius was tricky but doable.
"That takes care of your father," Harry declared with satisfactions. "But, it won't deal with anyone he might send in his stead."
"I'll need to access my household library to fix that. And all things considered, I am not going to run there when Lucius is likely there just waiting to see how I get in." He was not going to give his father an inch. He could wait. He had more patience, like his mother. Lucius had none. So Draco could just as happily bide his August here, then bide his time for almost a whole year at Hogwarts. The corner of his mouth curled up. This would drive his father nutty, hopefully enough to make a critical mistake. Draco wondered if using one unforgivable curse on a man who had used many on others could be forgiven.
The two young men struggled to replace the painting as she screamed at them both till they got her covered. They left Kreacher to soothe the woman matriarch of the Black household. While they waited for Ron and Hermione, Draco contacted a trusted barber through the floo to come visit them. He and Harry got neat trims and Draco had the back of his neck shaved. Hermione had commented that this cut had looked good on him and since she was the only girl to honestly say anything looked good on him without intensions of bedding him or marrying him for his money, he concluded she must be right. The barber was indeed professional, even down to collecting every single scrap of hair clipping and incinerating them before his clients for proof. Draco and Harry paid him and went off to their respective rooms to change.
Draco was ready first. He stood in the main room by the floo smartly dressed. His charcoal pants were perfectly creased. A silver green thin turtle neck he bought yesterday seemed to make his eyes seem bluer. His long dress robe looked like an almost Asian suit jacket that came down past his knees. (For those who don't get it, go watch Neo in The Matrix) He gave his cuffs a slight adjustment to make sure the edge of his green sleeve peaked through properly. He cast a polish charm on his shoes to ensure they shined. Lifting the front lower part of his robe aside, he tucked his wand out of the way in his belt in the little holder made for the wand. A tiny pouch hung on the other side that had an expanding charm in it so it could hold his personal essentials and money. He leaned on his cane refusing to sit. Crookshanks and been through the room and he was sure the cat left fur about on purpose.
Harry joined him and asked it the others returned. He wore black pants and a block suit jacket with a similar style shirt as Draco, only in burgundy. He had a golden silk handkerchief in his pocket. Draco cast the polish charm on Harry's shoes to teach him how. "Thanks. I bet Hermione is having trouble with Ron. At least him mother didn't send him with an ancient robe like at the Triwizard Tournament Ball." Harry shuddered at the memory of the horrible robe. So did Draco.
Before they even finished their shuddering, Ron and Hermione stepped from the floo. They brushed off the dust. "Are we late?" asked Hermione seeing these two very smartly dressed men before her.
"No, we have an hour till our reservation at Le Gavroche." Draco enjoyed the shocked looks or looks of confusion on people's faces. "The night is on me. You subjected me to… your food. Now I subject you to mine."
Harry and Ron didn't know the restaurant, though Harry heard the name and knew it was expensive. Hermione, however, knew it to Draco's surprise and he made mental note to ask her how she, a common muggle, would know of such a place, let alone have actually been there. At least this would make traveling there much easier. They wouldn't need to take the dust floo, they could apparate there instead.
Hermione ushered Ron upstairs to hurry and change. Harry asked Draco many questions about what to do and not do while there. What was appropriate and not? Draco was pleasantly surprised and shared the social etiquette expectations with Harry while they waited.
Ron skipped down the stairs. A deep burgundy suit vest turned robe in that it was long in the back and had sleeves and a simple collar like a suit, almost. It had no pockets though. His pants thankfully matched and he wore a cream coloured dressy button shirt with his Gryffindor tie and his simple black school shoes. Harry practiced his polishing charm on Ron's shoes. Ron was dressy, but still somewhat casual. Draco needed to up that scale a little. He took out a golden galleon from his tiny pouch and transfigured it. He especially enjoyed watching Ron gape as he pinned the lion cuff links into place and neatly pinned the tie with a larger lion. "You can give those back to me tomorrow."
The floo lit up and Molly's voice could be heard already praising them all for looking so good. She sent over a camera and INSISTED they take pictures. Harry took most of the pictures, but Ron took a few so Harry would be in them. Ron yelled for Hermione to hurry.
Draco had expected ruffles. Hermione had always worn something with flowing ruffles from the hues of pinks veils when she danced with Victor Krum to the short red dress he had glimpsed at the Slughorn party back in sixth year. This was much more… grown up. A long red dress draped and moved with her curves, hugging her form from the one shoulder strap down to her knees where it then flares slightly to give her ease to walk. Her shoes were the same red ones from the Slughorn party, but they matched beautifully. Her hair was drawn back with crisscrossing red ribbons with small silver and gold beads.
"Close your mouth Weasley. Drool is unmanly." Draco maintained his composure, but inside he did much the same as Ron. Harry stepped forward first to tell her she looked stunning. She covered her mouth with a small giggle and thanked him. A gold chain around her waist held a small black pouch, beaded like her hair. Likely, it was spelled to hold everything including the kitchen sink. A silver necklace hung around her throat with a small gold pendant, a locket. Harry took the camera from Ron's numb fingers and snapped some picture of Hermione. Draco Stepped in, leaned his can against the chair and balanced on his good leg so he could use both hands to drape the black caplet over her shoulders. He wanted to say something, something gentlemanly, something Harry had not said. Everything he though of sounded horrible. Her eyes met his for a second as Harry snapped a shot. They both parted in silence. Harry then sent the camera back to Molly
They were ready. They all cleaned up so well, some even with thin budgets. All Draco could think was that no one would ever have suspected they were anything other than a group of wealthy pure bloods out for a casual dinner. Hermione apparated to the restaurant with Ron and Draco with Harry. The entrance seemed nondescript from the large brick building. You almost would think it were a large manor crammed in the middle of London, but like Harry's #12 Grimauld Place. Draco lead them in where they were met by an older man who greeted them, checked their reservations and invited them to sit in a small lounge while their table was prepared for them.
Ron did not understand why they had to wait for their table. He figured that if they had a reservation, then the table should be there waiting and already prepared. Draco corrected him. "We are waiting for them to properly color coordinate the table to what we are wearing and for them to set the appropriate sculpture on the table. Usually they place silver and gold hound on the table for my family, or a sleeping dragon. They might put something more appropriate for my guests. And the wait is normal. Here we get to sit in the oxblood leather chairs and be served their finest champagne or other specialty aperitif." The older gentleman returned with four tall thin glasses of sparkling champagne and a dish of the finest chocolate truffles and a small selection of crackers with cheese, caviar, and other toppings, enough for them all to each have a chocolate and three cracker pieces. Draco whispered, "They also gauge our introductory conversations to make sure suitable mood music and lighting fits what is likely to be the talk of the evening."
Draco raised his glass to toast. "To clean slates and new beginnings. May we all have bright futures, great grades, and strong friendships." Everyone toasted to that. That toast inspired talk about the tutoring Hermione would be giving them, to start promptly tomorrow morning. They tried to bounce around things they remembered. As the restaurant was a mixed muggle and wizarding restaurant, when their conversation bordered on something too magical, the older gentleman would politely ask them if they preferred a window seat on the second floor or a cushioned private booth. The muggles sitting not too far away were watching them curiously. Hermione shifted the conversation to theater and films as Draco requested the private booth for the comfort. The older man asked if his injuries were recent and if any special needs had to be met. Draco declined the special needs, beyond very comfortable seating.
They were soon escorted down a flight of stairs and through an elegant room with well-spaced tables. Each table sat four or five. The colours were rich shades of burgundy, brown and green. The white table cloths stood out crisply with freshly polished silverware. Art on the walls were authentic pieces that complimented ever sections. They sat at a table in a green alcove booth with well cushioned green chairs. Artwork behind them depicted works by Renoir, a muggle artist. The table's centerpiece was an exquisite silver and mostly gold sculpture of a griffon reared up with its wings spread. It was charmed to change its position every fifteen minutes. Hermione beamed with delight. Renoir was one of her favourite artists and she loved the sculptures, describing how art like this was one of the signature features of this restaurant.
Speaking of signature features, there were three rounds of starters. First came traditional French onion soup followed by escargots. Draco tried hard not to smirk at the confusion of the many utensils and tried to show how to use them by example. At Ron's curious question as to what escargot was, Hermione volunteered with a smile that it was snails as she savoured a buttered cooked escargot that she dipped in the light hollandaise sauce. Ron shuddered and almost turned green remembering the fouled slug curse where he was puking up giant slugs for an hour at Hagrid's hut. He was much more interested in the next starter that arrived, the signature dish called soufflé suissesse or cheese soufflé cooked on double cream. They shared a dry white wine while waiting for their first meal course.
Draco remained entirely silent while they ate having learned not to speak at the table. The others managed to coax him out of silence by the time the wine was served. It was altogether hilarious watching how Ron and Harry joked about the weird utensils. Draco laughed with them as Hermione smothered her giggles behind her hand. They tried all sorts of new foods, a rare few had even Draco puzzled. Clearly the chef and waiters caught onto the joke and evened the playing field a little. Hermione had asked for specific things that reminded Draco that she had been here before, like when she asked for a specific mysterious rosé wine she tried but didn't recall the name. They asked her when she was last here and then they brought out four for her to try.
Draco reassured her it was fine. Then he HAD to ask, "Ok, so how is it that a commoner muggle has been to the most expensive restaurant in the world, in both the muggle and wizarding world?"
Hermione smiled almost coyly and he thought she would not answer. She did reply after a sip of her wine. "My father brought me and my mum here when he was promoted to head dental surgeon three years ago. We may not be wealthy enough to do anything on a whim, but we weren't lacking. My father worked very very hard for what we have… had…I…" She bit her lip and got quiet. She sipped her wine and mentally shoved aside her sense of loss and sadness for the family she could never see again. Draco felt sorry for having asked.
Harry saved them with Ron by derailing the conversation with the next course. "Good thing there are many courses are some people (eying Ron) would starve to death." Ron glared back. Chuckles broke out around the table again right through dessert.
The waiter brought over something new for them, "A Canadian whiskey, out of Quebec, very sweet with its maple flavour. It was brewed by muggles you know. And yet so aptly named." He paused before turning the bottle for them to read the label before he stated with great pleasure, "Sortilège. It means magic or spellcraft." It poured thickly like a liquor and yet dark and smooth like any whiskey. After they all had a glass over ice, Draco insisted that a bottle be made available for him to take home to enjoy.
As awkward as many moments were at the table, they all enjoyed this treat. Draco especially as it felt a lot more like the normal fare he was used to at home, or at least the caliber of cuisine. The late hour they arrived home at meant nothing this evening. They would feel it in the morning though when none would want to wake up.
A/N: I love seeing folks fave and alert my story, but reviews let me know what you think about it too. Keep your favourite writers writing, review their stories and tell them what you thought (liked, disliked, hope to see in future chapters). So… Please review.
A/N: Here are my link references for this restaurant. Remove the spaces and copy paste to your browser. The second one, I recommend clicking the tab "Look around the restaurant" and then play the video.
http:/ www. toptable. com/ venue/menus/ ?id=267
http:/ www .le-gavroche .co .uk/
A/N: Sortilege is a real Maple Whiskey out of Quebec, Canada. It is one of my favourite indulgences.