"Present time everybody, Mum says move it or your presents go to me" George's voice came blaring through the house and after checking that Ginny looked less like she had just been crying, they made their way down stairs. When they appeared on the stairs Ron smiled at them "There you are, is everything alright?" he asked, his worried blue eyes on his sister.
"Yeah I was just showing Harrie my new tampons" Ginny said and Harrie laughed at the look of revulsion on her friend's face.
"Sick" He shuddered and lead them into the tiny living room that was practically overflowing with Weasleys. Mr. Weasley was sitting in an armchair while Mrs. Weasley perched on the arm, George was sitting on the brick hearth, laughing with Charlie who was sprawled out on the floor. Percy was being engaged in conversation with Bill on the large settee, with Fleur on his lap. Ron sat crossed legged on the floor near the Christmas tree, patting the floor beside him, Harrie shook her head slightly at him, she didn't want to sit there it was like the center of the room, but when she made to drift further away from the tree Ginny gave her a playful shove and Harrie went and sat beside Ron, even as she felt like she was intruding.
"Right this one is for you Harrie" Ron said smiling broadly as he handed her a bright red present.
"I can't go first" Harrie blurted. What was with Ron today? He never made her be this much 'on show' as it were at his house, he always let her be on the edge of events. Happy to be there but slightly awkward to be intruding on family events.
"Nonsense of course you can dear" Mrs. Weasley urged her, smiling at her affectionately
Harrie opened the gift-wrapped box and was surprised to see a scroll and a clock hand with her name and picture on it. She ran her finger along her picture, who waved at her shyly. She picked up the parchment, slipping the silken ribbon off it and felt her lip trembling as she read the document
"As of this day, the wizarding world here by acknowledges Harelayna Lily Potter as the adopted child of Arthur Septimus Weasley and Margaret Muriel Weasley nee Prewett.
Adopted sister of William Arthur Weasley, Charles Arcturus Weasley, Percival Ignatius Weasley, The Late Fredric Gideon Weasley, George Fabian Weasley, Ronald Bilius Weasley and Ginevra Lucretia Weasley. By honour, love, magic and might shall it be"
Harrie looked up to find the room all looking at her as she struggled not to cry. Arthur spread his hands out "You were always one of us Harrie"
"Yeah we thought we best make it official" Bill said giving her a smile, Fleur dabbed at her eyes "Oui, it's just so, how do you say? Raccord? Welcome mon cherie"
"I always wanted another sister" Charlie said winking at her, Harrie laughed trying not to break into full out tears. Her heart was bounding in her chest and if felt like she couldn't breathe
"I've got the hair dye on standby" George added, winking at her and raising his mug at her
Harrie looked at Ron and he just shrugged "It's not like we needed the piece of paper" he said giving her a nudge with his elbow, looking self-conscious.
"Yes, welcome to the Weasleys Harrie" Percy said, clearing his throat suspiciously, George threw a box of tissues at him.
"I'm just happy not to be the only girl" Ginny added.
Mrs. Weasley had tears streaming down her cheeks, dabbing at them with an embroidered hanky "We know it's rather late, we had wanting to do this for years, but what with all that awfulness…then we weren't sure if you would even agree, though we still wanted to give you the choice…then you and Fre..Fred it seemed…but just know you are loved and you will always hold a place with us here.." Molly said trying to seem a flood of tears
Harrie put the scroll back into the box and pulled Mrs. Weasley into a hug stemming her words.
"You really want me?" Harrie asked quietly yet the whole room heard her and they all rushed to answer her at once, the noise was nearly deafening but Harrie got the gist of what was being said, a resounding YES.
"Of course, we do my darling girl, how could anyone not want you" Mrs. Weasley said, her voice hitching.
"I'd love to be part of your family" Harrie mumbled into Mrs. Weasleys neck.
"It's Molly, or Mum if you like, alright?" Mrs. Weasley told her cupping Harries cheek, Harrie nodded as she laughingly took a tissue from Percy's offered box.
"Well least now I don't feel bad giving you this" Harrie said, handing a heavy envelope over to Molly. Molly opened the envelope and paled dramatically, Arthur looked over his wife's shoulder "What is it dear?" he said before he too paled reading the missive.
"Harrie, we can't accept this" Arthur's voice was anything but steady
"You've lost your mind" Molly said not looking up from the parchment
Charlie snorted and took the parchment from his Mum's froze fingers "Holy shit" was all he said, and he sat up onto his knees, mouth hanging open. George took it out of Charlies hand, looked at Harrie in disbelief saying "Woahhh Harrie have I told you how much I love you lately"
Bill read it next and just got the same look of shock as his father, handing it to Percy who spluttered and just kept rereading it, until Ginny snatched it off him and she and Ron read it together.
"Oh, my fucking god" Ginny said, Ron's eyes boggled "Mate…seriously?"
"Fffhat does it say?" Fleur demanded, look between all the worried faces and Harrie's slightly embarrassed one
Bill, having been handed the parchment by a numb Ron again answered his wife as no one else seemed able to form words "Harrie, has given Mum and Dad… a million galleons"
Fleur dropped the cup of eggnog she was holding, her hands coming up to cover her mouth "mon dieu! tu as perdu la tête"
"Couldn't have said it better myself" Charlie muttered getting to his feet "Anyone for fire whiskey?"
There was a resounding noise of everyone saying yes again.
"Happy Christmas Weasleys" Harrie said laughing at everyone's gob smacked looks.
When Christmas dinner was served, Harrie looked on in amazement as Bill and Charlie magically extended the kitchen to fit them all in around the massive oak table.
"Too cold outside to set up out there" Arthur said to Harrie, as they sat down gesturing to the darkened winter evening out the window.
Everyone took their seats and using multiple hovering charms Molly and Fleur soon had the table groaning under so much food that Harrie thought Molly could give the Hogwarts house elves a run for their money in making Feasts. It was to everyone's surprise however when George cleared his throat to get everyone's attention
"To those that are here, to those who aren't and to those we wish could be" George said rising his goblet up in toast. Everyone took a moment to remember Fred and everyone else who was missing. Molly put her arm around her son and lifted her goblet with her other hand "Happy Christmas everyone"
A chorus of agreements and Christmas sentiments filled the room as everyone tucked into the amazing meal Molly had cooked for them all. There was Turkey, golden and delicious, a ham with a burnish glaze, studded with cloves. Mounds of roast vegetables, jugs of gravy, picture perfect looking pies and a basket over following with freshly baked rolls.
The meal was eaten with many smiles and lots of laughter as George handed out WW crackers that set of miniature fireworks above the winner and contained full sized novelty hats and random wizarding games or gag items. Just went everyone was full and feeling sleepy, Molly gave a wave of her wand and pudding started lining up on the long table.
Dessert if possible, looked even better, there were puddings, a gigantic trifle, jellies shining like jewels in all sorts of amazing shapes and an impressive looking yule log sponge cake. Not to mention the plates of fruit pies, fudges and shortbread biscuits.
Amazingly everyone forgot how full they had been seeing all the sweet treats.
"Harrie dear are you sure?' Molly asked for what felt like the hundredth time. Harrie dropped her head into her arms, staring at the wood grain of the table before sitting up again and saying "Yes Molly. I am sure, I want to give it to you." She reached across the table and patted the Weasley matriarch reassuringly on her hand "Please just accept it"
After the shock had worn off and Christmas dinner (or feast more like it, Molly had once again made enough food for an army of people) had been eaten, most of the group had retired to sleep off their food induced exhaustion, leaving Harrie, Molly and Fleur sitting at the table sharing a post mass clean up cup of tea.
"Mere, Harrie az told us, you must be accepting it" Fleur said flicking her long blonde hair over her shoulder, standing up and putting her empty mug into the sink
"bonne nuit, joyeux Noël" The French woman said, pausing to plant twin kisses on Molly's cheek and blowing a kiss across the table to Harrie.
"I best head home too. Thanks for having me" Harrie stood up from the table, stretching her arms above her head and yawning. It had been a long day; a lot had happened in a short space of time but Harrie deemed it to be the best Christmas she had ever had.
"Don't be silly, this is home to you too now you know. You sure you don't want to stay the night?"
Harrie was tempted, she enjoyed being with the family in the cozy crooked house but maybe it was just a habit of a life time, she was longing for some solitude in her own bed.
"I have a friend coming over tomorrow, so I best be there" Harrie said looking around for her jumping that she had taken off earlier
"Well look after yourself" Molly said sternly. Harrie's checks flushed with pleasure at her motherly concern
Much bustling and noise had the other household members who were awake, hugging Harrie and saying goodbye.
Harrie turned around just as she got to the apparition boundary, waving at the gathering of red heads who were braving the cold just to see her off. Her family, she thought happily before spinning on the spot and cracking away.
Harrie paced back and forth casting nervous glances at the fireplace. Draco was meant to be arriving day. She didn't know if she was excited or terrified.
Draco hesitated his hand hovering over the floo powder, he was expected at Harrie's house and he couldn't decide if his heart was racing in anticipation or terror. His Mother, turned him with a tender hand to his cheek and he felt guilty when he saw that her eyes were swimming with tears
"I will miss you my Dragon"
"I'll miss you too Mum" He said, giving his Mum a final hug that he would never admit but was longer than any he had given before and he clung onto her slender frame tight.
"Well, do not keep her waiting" Narcissa said, wiping her eyes delicately and giving him an encouraging smile as he stepped into the fireplace
"The Pottery" Draco wondered if he imagined it, but he thought his Mum had given a gasp of surprise as he whooshed out of sight.
"You came" Her voice soothed his nerves and his face broke out into a dazzling smile as he stepped out of the fireplace, closing the gap between them in three long-legged strides.
Wow, his smile made her knees weak. Why was he so gorgeous? Harrie felt giddy just looking at him
"Worried I wouldn't?" he pulled her softly into his hard chest and Harrie slid her arms around his waist. It wasn't until she was back in his arms that he let himself acknowledge just how much he had missed her. It was like he was incomplete without her.
"Merlin I've missed you" He growled as he lowered his head taking her mouth in a gentle kiss. Their lips moved against each other with increasing heat. Only breaking apart when the need for air dictated, they did.
With a deep groan Draco swept Harrie up against him and walking them over to the settee. Groaning his approval when her legs wrapped around his waist till, she was flush against his already painful erection. He lowered her down onto the cushions, their lips fused together even as the both started tearing each other's clothes from each other's bodies.
Soon Draco was running his hands along the smooth skin of her legs, his gaze locked onto her boundless breasts and he groaned as he lowered his head pulling on rosy peak into his mouth.
Harrie moaned hopelessly grinding her hips in wanton abandonment.
"In me...I need you inside me" She panted as one of his hands slid from her ankle up to thigh, she felt him smirk her nipple slipping out of his mouth as his fingers dancing across her hip, to rest above the apex of her thighs.
"Is that right?" He asked playfully, pushing his hand hard against her pussy but not breaching her, just letting her feel the pressure of his warm skin. She rocked her hips up desperately trying to get him to move
"Don't tease me Draco" Harrie mewled her hand dropping to wrap around his hard shaft, he dropped his head at the movement of her hand, moaning when she squeezed him.
"But I like teasing you" He said against her mouth as he took hers in more scorching kisses. His middle finger feeling the silken wetness of her arousal, pooling at her entrance. He let his finger dip into her core, he shuddered at the silken gloving grip her body had on his digit, merlin he needed her.
Harrie rolled her hips trying to force him into action, she felt like she was on fire, like she would die if he didn't fill her soon.
"Please fuck me…" She all but begged him, her hand pulling his cock towards where she needed to feel him
"If you insist" He said looking down into her green eyes and thrusting into her fully, watching as her head flung back, her mouth dropping open in a silent scream as he pulled his hips back and started moving within her silken heat.
The lay together panting, occasionally exchanging smiling kisses as they got their bodies back under control.
"Thank you for my presents by the way" Draco said, kissing his way down Harries arm, giving a teasing lick at her wrist before moving back up
"I saw them and thought of you" She said, sighing softly at the teasing brush of his lips against her skin
"Where did you get the book? If you do not mind me asking" He asked, his mouth moving across her collarbone, he nipped slightly at the ridge before drifting lower placing kisses along her breast bone, growling in appreciation when her rosy nipples came into his sight
"One of my vaults" Harrie uttering breathily as his tongue swirled
He hovered above her nipple, wetting it with the tip of his tongue, watching how it gleamed "One of them?" he asked before pulling the little cherry into his mouth
"Ahhhhh Yeah, I have a few" She cried even as she bucked towards him
"I've got some presents for you, you know" He continued his journey down, pausing to run his tongue in and around her tiny belly button, loving the way she muscles quivered underneath him
"I need you to unshrink them for me I'm afraid" He asked somewhat hesitantly moving away from her to be able to reach his discarded coat which held his shrunken items.
"It's a bit beyond my wandless magic. I had a house elf do it for me" She did what he asked without commenting and Draco had the self-deprecating thought of thinking if their situations had been reversed if he would have done so. Maybe not to this girl he added looking into her green eyes and wishing he could proclaim to the world that she was his.
He handed Harrie four presents wrapped in gold with red ribbon, "Happy Christmas Harrie"
She smiled broadly replying "Happy Christmas too you to Draco" as she accepted the gifts. Harrie would like to say she opened her gifts with a cool sophistication, but she didn't. Harrie ripped into the paper on the first gift, looking at the smooth surface of a jeweler's case. She looked at him smiling before she lifted the hinged lid. Inside was a silver bracelet, picking it up carefully underneath there were about twenty tiny circles of silver that seemed to shiver slightly with magical intent.
She looked up at Draco questioningly
He explained "They will turn into the charms at your touch"
There was a stag, a doe, an otter, a jack russell, a wolf, a phoenix, a weasel, a bear, a meerkat, a hare, one of twin magpies and she laughed at one that started taking shape in her hand…
"A grim?" He asked slightly concerned, when he saw its final shape
She shook her head looking at the tiny beast with longing "It's my godfather's form, it's some kind of wolf hound I think"
"Odd collection of beasts" He said wondering who the hell they all represented "They are your guardians tokens"
Harrie looked at him in confusion "My guardians?"
He took the bracelet from her, slipping it around her wrist and doing the clasp explaining softly "Its old folk law, it is believed that every person's magic keeps an image of those who would protect them. These are the ones your magic has chosen as your strongest. They will bring you luck. Do you know who they all are?"
Harrie nodded, most of them anyway she thought to herself, she had an inkling of who the meerkat was though she would have to check.
"Thank you, it's beautiful" She said softly, her fingers tracing over the little face of the doe
She pointed at the remaining silver discs asking, "What about them?"
"They will change over time if your magic deems it necessary" He said thinking of the pedant he had at home that held his charms, there was only four on his one, his mother's ashera cat, his father's peacock, his grandfather's eagle and Blaise's mouflon.
Harrie moved her wrist around watching her charms jiggle, every now and then one of the animals would shift slightly she watched with pure delight as the stag pawed at the air and the meerkat moved its head back rapidly as though looking for danger.
"But wait, there's more" Harrie said pulling the three other resized presents towards herself.
In the second box was a book nearly as old as the one she had given him, she gently opened the cover and saw it was a book about spells and dueling
Call her paranoid but years of having Hermione as a friend meant Harrie was at times wearing of being given books, she carefully turned some of the pages looking at the hand tipped illustrations "Wow, this looks amazing" She was happy to see that this book was one she would definitely read, already looking with interest at one of the spells. He put it to one side and opened another box, this one held
"Quidditch stuff! Wow….this stuff is amazing!" She cried enthusiastically running her fingers along the leather shields, arm guards and gloves, leg guards, boots and a set of golden snitches.
"Thank you so much!" She enthused as she tried on the gloves, they shrunk slightly as she pulled them on. Self-resizing charm meant they were expensive. They were remarkably light weight. Harrie beamed, she loved quidditch leathers and these truly spectacular if you were into that kind of thing.
"You are welcome. Thought you best have the best at your try outs" He said, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. Harrie gave a girlish sigh of appreciation at the look of heated possession he gave her.
"The last one I confess to being more for me than you" Draco said smirking at her look of intrigue
She took the lid of the last box, lifting a layer of tissue and felt herself blush at what was in there
"Do you like it?" Draco asked, his breath tickling her neck as he kissed her shoulder
Harrie lifted the lacy bodice of what she could only recognize as some sort of fancy underwear "I…I've never worn suspenders before" She uttered her voice hitching as his kisses grew bolder.
"Your body was made to be in French lace" He told her, slipping the box out of her grasp letting it tumble to the floor, his mouth moving up her neck, pausing at her pulse point, where he licked the fluttering skin there. Harrie burned with arousal as she pictured herself wearing it just for him, and his hands peeling it from her. This was going to be a fun week.
Harrie led the way into the seating room, carrying a bowl of chocolate malt balls (a personal favorite) Draco was carrying a tumbler of fire whiskey and a decanter which he placed onto the coffee table. It was late and they had just finished a late supper, having spent most of the day in her bed. She took one corner of the settee, he took the other. The fire was the only light in the room.
"Ask a question and we both have to answer honestly" Her green eyes shone in the firelight and she stretched lazily her small bare foot rubbing up his leg, Draco felt the fingers of lust spreading through him like vines from a tentacular plant and he growled stilling her seeking toes.
"Ask your questions or I will take you back upstairs" The way she worried her lower lip meant that she was just as close to begging him to take her again, reason won out though.
"Favorite food?"
"Sweet would be anything chocolate, savory would be scallops" Her nose wrinkled, he rolled his eyes "You are such a commoner Potter, what pray tell is yours? Treacle tart?" He asked helping himself to her chocolate
The rose blooming on her cheeks were more telling than a spoken response and he chuckled, taking another sip from his tumbler of fire whiskey. Who knew that Harrie Potter would have such good taste in whiskey?
"Favorite subject?" He asked the woman in front of him, watching the firelight throw flickering shadows around the room
"It was defense, though this year I think charms. Let me guess, potions is yours?" She reached forwards and snagged another handful of round chocolates from the bowl between them. He nodded briefly, closing his fingers around her ankle as her wandering toes started making their way up his leg again.
She pouted "Typical Slytherin answer, First crush?"
"Adeline Augustine"
"Who the hell is Adeline Augustine?" Harrie asked tossing a chocolate up into the air and catching it with her open mouth. Draco shook his head in defeat, there was nothing about this girl that he didn't find utterly irresistible.
"She was two years ahead of us, she should have been Slytherin seeker if it wasn't for Marcus being a chauvinist, she was also incredibly gifted at hexes" He said with remembered distain at the unfairness of his quidditch captain.
Her smiled widen at that "Mine was a boy called Jeremiah Stropp"
Pale brows rose in confusion "Unfortunate name, who is he?"
"A boy I went to primary school with, he gave me an apple when my cousin stole my lunch once. Was the first time anyone shared with me like that"
Draco frowned at the thought of Harrie being so lonely as a child that she would grow fond of someone for giving her a piece of fruit.
"Favorite thing you own?" He asked
"My cloak probably, it was my Dads. Yours?"
"My Grandfather gave me a very special journal when I got accepted to Hogwarts, it has a silver dragon on it and it only responds to my touch…. or maybe my new broom" He added with a grin
Her face lit up at the mention of her gift to him "Sounds fancy, favorite season and holiday and why"
Draco thought for a moment before answering "I have always liked the Winter months and Halloween is my favorite. When my Grandfather was alive, I used to go spend a few weeks with him during the winter, also for Halloween. It was one of the few times I could act like a child without my parents seeing" He smiled conspiratorially at the brunette and drunk the rest of his drink, reaching down for the bottle and pouring himself another one
"I like winter, I like being cold, to look forward to being in bed or having a hot chocolate" She smiled sweetly and stretched like a cat before continuing, "and Christmas wins hands down for me, ever since I came to Hogwarts, they have been fantastic every year"
"Something you would change about yourself?" He asked, thinking of how much he would have changed only last year, yet deciding that if this girl in front of him liked him maybe he wasn't all bad.
Harrie grimaced "My name. Harelayna? Really? What the hell were my parents even thinking"
"Do you know what it means?" Draco asked
"Something ugly no doubt to match it" She said her voice grumbly
"Your name is not ugly. It's beautiful. Harelayna is a German name, it is derived from heri meaning 'army, warrior' and 'wald' to rule'. It suits you completely. Who ever thought to butcher it to 'Harrie' is the crazy one" He said
Harrie snorted "Warrior to rule? Great. The shortening was my God father's doing" She smiled sadly and played with the silver signet ring she had on her right hand that he knew were one of the last gifts Sirius Black had ever given her and as far as he knew she had never taken it off. "He said I suited a short and sweet name because I was both"
Draco watched with interest the way her emotions quickly shadowed her eyes as she thought of the God Father, he knew nothing about him even though they were related on his mother's side. He hoped his answer would bring back her happiness, merlin when had he gotten so soft?
"I would change my hair colour"
She looked shocked and then turned her head on the side appraising him "Why don't you then?"
"Believe it or not my hair resists change. I can change it for small amounts of time and then it changes back"
Harrie told him considering "You wouldn't be a Malfoy without the blonde hair"
"That's why I would change it" he said a note of bitterness in his voice
Harrie stared at him and playfully nudged him with her small foot "Well just for the record, I like your blonde-ness" His large hand gripped her foot and caressed the smoothness of her ankle bone "And I adore your name" He uttered as he lifted her foot to kiss the ankle he had just been admiring.
"On the heels of your question, what is your favourite body part?" he asked, his eyebrow raised in challenge,
"My eyes probably" She answered, wriggling her foot in his grasp
He agreed with that sentiment, she really did have specular eyes, the colour was nearly unreal with its clarity.
"Or maybe my tits" She mutter thoughtfully, cupping them and pushing them up. He watched the delightful roll and bounce of her boobs "I couldn't agree more"
Harrie threw her head back and laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying herself. It was freeing being like this with him, it was like the world had narrowed to just them. Maybe it was just because Harrie had never really got to have anything just of her own but that is how she felt spending time with Draco. That these moments belong to her and no one else.
"What about you?" She asked quietly, watching the way his Adam's apple bobbed when he swallowed his whiskey and the way his fingers cradled the glass. His blonde hair in the firelight, his grey eyes freed from their usual mask. He was hers right at this minute, no one else had a claim to him but her.
"My jawline" Draco said after contemplating his answer. He once would have said his eyes and his hair as they marked him as his father's son but now, he wasn't sure he wanted those reminders everyday of his life.
"What the fuck? Your jawline really?" Harrie gave him a mystified look.
He shrugged, smirking "I always thought it was my best feature. But tell me Harrie, what part of me do you favor?" he asked playfully
"Your mouth" She waited till he took another mouthful of whiskey before adding "Or your dick"
As expected, he spluttered into his glass at her remark, shaking his head at her.
"Purely for pleasure purposes I suppose?" he retorted
"Your mouth is where your emotions show the most. You smirk when something amuses you, you get a little line that creases your lower lip when you're thinking and you sneer so beautifully when something pisses you off" Harrie spoke quietly, but saw her words had a significant reaction because he suddenly looked lighter somehow.
This girl made him feel…free. There was no other way to describe how he was when he was with her, nothing else mattered but being with her. It dawned on Draco that he didn't know enough about her, he wanted to know everything.
"What's your family like?" he asked
"Not your turn" She said giving him a fake smile, he was astonished that he could tell the difference between her differing looks and suddenly in dawned on him that perhaps Harrie Potter didn't have the loving, hero worshipping family he always assumed she did.
"Bullies, my family are bullies. Well my cousin was alright the last time I saw him." She added wonderingly, then admitted "But his parents hate magic nearly as much as they hate me" Harrie said flippantly, repositioning herself so she could reach the packet of chocolate on the occasional table.
Draco was lost for words, hearing the levels of resentment in her voice shocked him, admittedly this wasn't the first time she had alluded to having a bad childhood. He wanted her to explain what had her early years had been like, he could remember her in that robe shop being tiny, pale and timid but had thought that was just general nerves that any eleven-year-old would have. He remembered hearing a rumor in second year that she had been 'rescued' by the Weasleys but thought that was just exaggerated bullshit making the rounds.
"You don't want to talk about your Father, do you?" Harrie demanded giving him a challenging look, she knew that he would be as reluctant to speak of his family as she was about hers. How did one explain that she had spent her formative years being treated…how she was. Harrie didn't like the term 'abused' or 'neglected' which Hermione always liked to call her family's treatment of her. She had just been…there. Unwanted and resented. She gave herself a mental shake, she had accepted that she wasn't treated like a normal kid, she knew that making a kid sleep in a cupboard wasn't good child rearing. But she also knew that dwelling on the past just made her angry, and she didn't want to feel like that way anymore.
"Enough, anyway you cheater, it was meant to be my question. So, your best friend is?" Harrie asked
Sensing that to inquire more about family would just lead to having to answer his own unwanted questions, he told her "Blaise, with Pansy coming in a close second" he took a sip of his drink, savoring the burn the whiskey gave him.
"Why were you always with Crabbe and Goyle then?" Harrie asked, trying to remember a time during their earlier years at Hogwarts when she saw the blonde out of the other two's company.
Draco shrugged "Parental expectations"
Harrie didn't think she wanted to hear the story behind that. For all the pureblood family pride and honor that she heard about it, seemed more like children growing up being told how to act, who to hang out with and generally turning into cold distant people who were afraid to show emotion.
Draco wondered if he could really put into words the way he was forced into maintain a 'friendship' (and he used that term loosely) with two boys who could barely make conversation and who had a disturbing passion of hurting weaker things for sport. His friendship with Blaise, who had been just as obsessed with comic books, brooms and marbles as he had as a child, was something completely at odds from what he had endured with Greg and Vince. His Father had spoke of image and intimidation when he had insisted on afternoons spent in their company.
"Blaise is…great" He said simply, smiling at the thought of his friend who had always tried his hardest to get Draco to live.
"No need to say who your best friends are so most embarrassing memory?" He asked, taking one of the chocolates from out her hand, which earned him a very cute pout for his efforts.
"Oh man, okay. I got my….monthly at my relatives, the first time I had ever gotten one away from Hogwarts and having to take my Aunts ummm…feminine products" Draco grimaced internally at the subject of this story, why did girls think these things needed mentioning aloud? Harrie looked at his mockingly (Thinking all men were the same when it came to 'women's problems" but continued with her story anyway "…and getting caught by my Uncle who thought I was stealing and started shouting and threating to call the police and then having to show him what I had hidden behind my back. I think he was more embarrassed than me to be honest, anyway my cousin did the nicest thing ever and went and bought me a whole heap of things, enough for like ten people, his face bright red all he said was "let me know if you need more". Sweetest thing he had ever done for me" Harrie thought of her cousin, wondering what he was doing out of school. Was he still living at home? He had changed, the dementor had changed him…not for the first time she wondered at what he had seen and heard when the specters of discord attacked them back in fifth year. Draco's voice returned her to the room, and she smiled at his response
"Sounds very chivalrous of your cousin, your Uncle sounds like an arsehole. What else?" Draco was really enjoying hearing about her life. It seemed way more interesting that his own, even if it created more questions for him to ask. She was like a drug for him, the more he had of her the harder it was to be without her. He took another fortifying sip of his drink
"I walked in on the Weasleys once" Harrie said
He choked on his drink and coughed violently "Sick"
Harrie just laughed "It was far worse for Ron, they were in the kitchen at the time, don't think he could stomach eating at the table for a month"
"Poor Weasley"
"What about yours?" She asked
Draco considered his options "Oh, there are many, my Grandmother walking in on me wanking is one"
"Jesus, least you could have just covered up" Harrie said
"I wish, I was fully naked in front of my mirror. Nearing climax, I might add" He shuddered in remembered shame
Harrie roared with laughter "And you are so noisy too"
"I'm noisy? You can talk, you even make sex noises when you eat. It is very distracting"
"Why were you in front of the mirror?" She asked trying to pull off a serious look, but her laughter was breaking through
"Research" was his one word answer
That had her in fits of laughter again and it made a warm fuzzy feeling he had no name for start to unfurl in his chest.
"What's your Patronus?" She asked suddenly, her cheeks a lovely rosy pink.
"That is one of the few spells I have not yet mastered, yours is a stag is it not?" He looked loathed to admit a failing in front of his once enemy.
"Yes, it is. Like my Dads animagus form"
"Scared the magic out of me when you cast it in third year. Plus, I got weeks of cleaning out caldrons without magic for my trouble" Her laughter rung out and Draco fought a losing battle before joining her, loving the sensation. How long had it been since he had been truly happy with someone else? Years he decided.
"Poor little Draco having to use his hands" Her greens eyes sparkled, and Draco felt a little more of himself being lost to her.
"Would you like to know my form?" He asked softly his grey eyes tender wanting to share something secret with her
"You're an animagus?" She asked eagerly. Draco chuckled softy and fleetingly at the note of wonder that entered her voice when she learnt something new
Without moving an inch, the blonde form sitting beside her disappeared and in his place sat a large bird, with a sharply curving beak and sleek feathers the colour of Draco's white blonde hair with darker feathers at the tips, it turned towards her and gave some small chirps and she tentatively reach out her hand to stroke his head. She gasped at how soft he was, he fluttered his wings and changed back into a man.
"You are amazing. I've never seen a falcon that colour"
He looked at her astonished "I am surprise you could recognize me, many can't. I'm a gyrfalcon"
"I've always liked falcons, they are amazing" Her thoughts drifted to a time when she spent long hours in a gloomy cupboard reading a book about birds, longing for wings to be able to fly away.
"My Grandfather had one, nastiest bird ever, tried to take a chunk out of me more than once. He was impressive though"
"How long have you been able to shift? and I am assuming you aren't registered."
"I taught myself last year to escape how I felt at home. You would be right with that assumption"
"Can you teach me how to become an animagus?"
"I can give you the book that taught me. It is more feeling yourself change, losing yourself somehow. We can try while I am here if you like. You might even be able to bypass the mandrake leaf thing completely. I only did that part of the time, tastes like absolute arse"
"Really? Do you get to pick what you change into?"
"No, well not with any conscious thought. I was pleased to be a gyrfalcon nonetheless I did not choose it. My magic chose the creature most compatible with my magical signature and undoubtedly I just did not want to be a human anymore"
They both fell silent at the remembered awfulness that was last year. Harrie could only imagine how horrible it must have been to have Voldemort in residence in your own home and watching all you thought you knew crumble, even your parents.
"First kiss?" He broke the silence, trying to lighten the mood, Harrie smiled in acknowledgment
"Male or Female" She relished the look of surprise that appeared on his face
"Did not think you had it in you Potter. Who were they?"
"Ron and Hermione" Her cheeks flushed, and Draco's mouth nearly dropped open in his surprise, but years of pure blood upbringing caused his jaw to merely tighten.
"How did you and Granger come to be kissing? I hope it was not for Weasleys benefit"
"What? no, you can't repeat this to anyone, especially Ron, Hermione kind of jumped me one night said she was testing a theory"
"Weasley does not surprise me, Granger however certainly does, though the way you are blushing would suggest it was not just the one kiss you shared. Mine was Adeline, she kissed me in second year, later she was my first of everything else"
"Really? When was this?" Harrie asked popping more chocolate into her mouth
He grabbed one too crunching it before replying "After the Yule Ball"
Harrie choked slightly "Fourth year?! What the fuck?"
The Slytherin just shrugged "We cannot all have high moral standards"
"None of that! how, when, why?" Harrie said counting of the words on her fingers
"My foolish attempt at self-denial, proved without doubt something I had long tried to deny. Adeline was there and more than willing to amuse me for a while"
"What were you trying to deny?" She asked
"That I wasn't attracted to you" He replied
Harrie felt her mouth drop open in surprise and a half-melted chocolate fell out of her mouth down onto her chest. His customary smirk played across his face but now Harrie would admit she found it a turn on to see it.
"Charming Harrie" He pulled her onto his lap and rearranged them, so she was straddling him, he sucked the chocolate off her skin and her breath caught as his hands brought her into sudden contact with his semi-hard erection.
"You liked me in fourth year?" His tongue had started moving up from her chest to her neck and was tracing lazy patterns on her skin, his voice rumbled against her "No, I did not like you however, I wanted you. You looked exquisite in your green dress, with your hair shining and earrings that sparkled like your eyes. I had never seen you looking more perfect than that moment, except maybe when you fly or when you are coming on my cock"
"Are all Slytherins so poetic?" She spoke softly, leaning back to allow him better access to her throat.
"Just part of my Malfoy charm" He said before capturing her mouth in a savage kiss
The sun shining through the partially drawn curtains was what woke Draco. He looked down and saw rumbled dark hair on his shoulder and half hidden under the white sheets. He flexed his arm, bumping the hair up and down and causing a long low grumble to issue from within the beds hidden depths.
"Go away" Harrie muttered darkly curling deeper into the covers
A sly grin curving his lips he rolled against her tickling her viciously until her laughter filled the room and she begged for mercy. Laying on her stomach she turned her face towards him and using a hand pushed the heavy curtain of her hair away from her face.
"You are so beautiful Harrie" He said softly a note of wonder in his voice
"So are you" She replied shyly, moving closer to him
When she reached his arm, he made to move it away from her, she meet his gaze and he left it were it was, watching her examine it.
She ran her fingers over the raised mark that was what remained of his fading dark mark.
His grey eyes looked troubled as she traced the shape that was once the symbol of his misguided alliance to a terrible evil.
"Does it hurt?" Harrie asked
Draco shook his head "Not anymore" he looked down at the mark bitterly, longing for it to disappear, hating it even more seeing it near her.
Harrie looked up at him again "Meaning it did once?"
He nodded "Very much so" Remembering how much it burned and how it was like a heavy anchor that he could always feel, dragging him into an abyss.
"I'm sorry" She said
He looked stoically "Just another reminder of my stupidity" he wished it wasn't there, he wished he hadn't stood there while it was spelled into his flesh, he wished he had had a choice.
Draco watched in incredulity as Harrie kissed the mark and ran her tongue along it. She stopped in the middle of it, kissing it again and then breathing on it and muttering under her breath. He watched the place where her lips had touched and saw a mark like a lipstick kiss appear on his skin, glowing slightly for a second. It was slightly darker than the scar that was there and stood out in sharp relief and he watched in amazement as the dark mark faded significantly. He found it perverse that instead of being stressed by her behavior, he lay there charmed. Even as he looked at the now faded brand
"What did you do?" He asked running his hand along his arm in disbelief
"Kissed it better" She told him, as though it was simple and he supposed to her it was. This girl who could do unbelieve feats of magic and not know it.
"You are so weird sometimes" He whispered into the room, looking at the way her bottom lip pouted when she smiled.
"All part of my Potter charm" She rolled away from him and stood stretching by the bed. Looking down into her bed, at a sleep rumpled Draco was something she could get used to.
"Anything you want to do this morning?" She called as she walked into the bathroom "Other than me" She added seeing him tenting the blankets with his morning salute
"I am your guest. You have to entertain me" he called to her
She appeared back in the door way, pulling her hair into a pony tail "Well hurry up"
He raised an eyebrow at her, sitting up to get a better look at her nakedness
"Or do I have to fuck myself?" She said with a flirty smile before turning back into the bathroom and he could hear the shower running. Draco didn't think he had ever gotten out of bed so quickly before, amazing what the right incentive did for someone.