Transition

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Transition By Firesword
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~ Chapter Twenty-three: Unbearable Tension ~

Tuesday, 14th July 1998.

Harry opened his eyes and watched as sunlight filled the bedroom slowly. Beside him, he felt Draco toss and turn, and finally flung an arm over his chest. Harry turned his head slightly to gaze into a pair of worried silver-blue eyes, then raised his hand to caress the side of the Slytherin's face affectionately. He knew that Draco was afraid that he might be convicted.

"Good morning, Draco," he whispered and kissed his boyfriend tenderly on the lips.

"Morning," Draco whispered back and snuggled closer to him. Harry rubbed his back soothingly and heard his boyfriend sigh contentedly in his ear. "I had better get moving. Snape and Mother would be here any minute now."

"Everything will be all right," Harry said softly.

"I hope so, too," Draco whispered and pressed his lips against Harry's. They broke away from the kiss rather reluctantly and Harry stayed in bed while his partner got up to wash.

Draco was already in the kitchen by the time he was ready. From the noises that he heard coming from the level below, he gathered that Snape and Narcissa had arrived.

He toweled his hair and unabashedly listened to the conversation that took place below his window. He nearly shouted in anger when he heard the Potions Master say that he would not be able to accompany them. He stormed out of the bedroom with his hair uncombed and shirt unbuttoned.

"What do you mean by that?" he demanded as he pushed past a startled Bluestone.

"You should have talked more quietly, Severus," Narcissa Malfoy noted calmly. The witch was elegantly dressed in rich blue and was drinking her tea. Snape turned to glare at her.

Draco looked weary as he approached the furious Gryffindor. "Professor Dumbledore warned Snape earlier," Draco began. "He said that only witnesses – which are my mother, myself and someone to vouch for my integrity, who is Snape of course – are to attend."

"Minister Fudge knows of your relationship with my son, Mister Potter," Narcissa piped up. "He is afraid that your presence might affect the decision of the members of the Wizengamot."

Harry could not help himself and started to swear. His face darkened with anger rapidly. "I would gladly wring that idiot's neck."

"I'll be fine, love," Draco said reassuringly.

Harry ignored him. "Is there any way that I can accompany you without being detected? Using the Invisibility Cloak is obviously out of the question."

"Even if you wear a collar and pretend to be a harmless dog, I doubt you can enter the courtroom itself, Potter," Snape snorted. "They don't allow pets to enter the building."

"Calm down, Harry. I know that this is hard but all of you will be in greater trouble if some brilliant officials uncover your presence," Starkmind said, his voice filled with great sympathy. "Draco will be all right. What he did was in self-defence."

"Don't let the Minister unnerve you," Harry said to Draco finally. "If he was acting similarly to the way he did when he was presiding my disciplinary hearing, he'll try to negate whatever you're trying to say. I remember that Snape had said that your father would never harm you, but still he tried to kill you and your mother a year ago."

"Oh dear," Narcissa said. She set her cup down and looked worriedly at her son. "I'm afraid that this can get really messy."

"So, you'd better make it clear to them that Lucius Malfoy was already insane." Harry's eyes became clouded. "I really should be with you. Other than Hermione and Ron, I knew the state of that Death Eater when he unloosed the weapon."

"But Snape was there, right? I don't think there would be any problems," Draco said, but he sounded uncertain.

Both Starkmind and Snape shook their heads. Draco looked at them inquiringly.

"They were both unconscious by the time the Death Eater appeared," Harry explained.

"What?" Narcissa exclaimed and stared at Snape in disbelief. "By the Power above! Severus, how could you be a weakling?"

"It was not my choice," the wizard said grumpily.

"Really!"

"Now, look here, narcissistic witch..."

"How dare you call me that!"

Harry looked at the arguing individuals with faint amusement. "Is this normal?" he asked Draco.

"If my father was here, I think it would be even worse," Draco replied sadly.

~*~

Harry distracted himself by helping Bluestone and Starkmind with the household chores. Lunchtime came and went, but still, Draco and his two companions had not returned. Desperately trying not to worry, he also volunteered to weed the garden and did so without using magic. It was close to four o'clock by the time he was finished.

"Is there anything else that I can do?"

"Not at the moment, Harry. Why don't you take a shower and nap?" Bluestone studied him with furrowed eyebrows. The Veela stepped forward and laid the back of his hand on the wizard's forehead. "Why didn't you say you were having a fever?" he scolded.

"It's not that serious, Bluestone."

"Whatever. Go and rest now."

Harry walked up the stairs with a dreary sort of heaviness in his heart. He quickly took a bath and went down to the living room.

"I thought you had been ordered by Captain Bluestone to rest," Starkmind said quietly, and looked up from his cookbook.

Harry flung himself onto the couch and sprawled untidily over it. "I am resting now." He grunted when Starry jumped onto his stomach without warning, curled into a comfortable position and began to doze. "Where's Hedwig?" he said suddenly. "I haven't seen her since this morning."

"Don't worry about her; she's out for a hunt with the other two."

Harry settled back onto the couch and absently stroked the cat's head. "Oh."

"Want to listen to some music?" Starkmind offered. The half-Veela set his cookbook aside and rose to his feet.

"Sure." Although he said that, he was fast asleep on the couch even when The Elderly Brothers started singing.

"Dream ... dream, dream, dream...."

~*~

Starkmind opened his mouth to say something but the words died when he saw that his young companion had fallen asleep with one hand curled protectively around the cat that dozed on his stomach.

He must have been exhausted. The chestnut-haired wizard knelt beside the couch, and stroked Harry's still damp hair fondly. The younger man still looked troubled as he napped. I wish that I could make everything turn out all right for you, remarkable one. He contemplated the Gryffindor's face in silence.

It somewhat surprised him that he still had feelings for Harry. I guess I do still care for him. He planted a soft kiss on Harry's broad forehead and went back to his chair. What shall I bake today? He alternated back and forth to look at the recipes for pumpkin pie and a chocolate-apricot-linzer tart. Soft footfalls alerted him that Bluestone was approaching and Starkmind smiled briefly at his husband before looking back at his cookbook.

"Bluestone, I think I'm going to do some baking today for a change," he informed his husband. "So what should it be: pumpkin pie or this?"

"We're out of oranges, dearheart, so it'll have to be pumpkin pie," Bluestone replied.

"Perfect! It's easier to bake anyway," Starkmind responded.

"Elaviel." Bluestone gave him a look of mild disappointment. "You're a lazy man." Starkmind chuckled. "You'd better get started then. I have to pop the chicken into the oven at six."

"What?" He immediately jumped to his feet and stared at the ancient grandfather's clock that adorned the wall above the fireplace. "Bluestone, you're cruel."

"Hmmm. Dearheart, shouldn't we put Harry on his own bed? It is more comfortable than this couch."

However, Starkmind shook his head. "Let's not wake him. Come on, my husband. Why don't you help me make a puree out of a pumpkin?"

~*~

Narcissa Malfoy walked quickly to the elevator with her face set into a stern gaze. Her light blue eyes that were nearly as silver as Draco's were, flashed dangerously when a pair of reporters started to approach her. Surprised at her animosity, the reporters backed off with bewildered expressions.

Behind her, a stormy-looking Snape and an exhausted Draco tried valiantly to keep up with her brisk pace. The elevator door opened and fortunately, there was no one else on it, not even the flapping memos. Her son entered, quickly followed by the Potions Master who openly acted like a bodyguard.

The witch pressed the button and the lift began to go up.

"You know," Draco began and Narcissa glanced at her son, "I thought the only thing I needed to worry about was not getting charged. However, after that, I somehow have the feeling that being locked up in Azkaban might save me from the troubles that will come up once the latest edition of the Daily Prophet is available to the public."

"You're strong and young," Narcissa replied, a little waspishly. "You can handle a little bit of gossip."

Snape warily stepped out of the lift and signaled to the other two that the coast was clear. Although it was a weekday, the place felt oddly deserted and their footfalls echoed eerily about them.

"Bloody idiots – all of them," Narcissa muttered darkly under her breath. Then she began to swear more elaborately, and it startled the two wizards.

"Narcissa! Be quiet!" Snape hissed.

She continued for several more seconds before she took a deep breath and Apparated out of the Ministry building. She had wisely kept her mind free of all other thoughts except the destination – the Dancers' Vale.

Narcissa materialized several metres away from the house that her son was occupying with his beloved and the Veelas. Simultaneous cracks filled the air as her friend and son Apparated behind her. Now, with no one to hear her, she resumed her ramblings.

"Nefarious and a lunatic indeed!" she uttered angrily. She whirled, her face white in fury. "What sane woman would want to marry a bloodthirsty, depraved and – and – nefarious wizard?" she demanded, and kicked at the ground almost girlishly.

Snape and Draco wore identical pained expressions – because Narcissa was shrieking as good as a banshee.

"Narcissa, your son is free of accusations. Lucius is already dead. Being bad-mouthed about is not going to hurt him."

"Oh, shut up, Severus!" She entered the house with no problems and was about to renew her histrionics in the living room when she noticed the sleeping figure on the couch. "Oh, the poor boy," she said softly. Evidently, Narcissa saw the concern that lined Harry's face while he slept.

Beside her, Draco froze and stared unblinkingly at the slumbering wizard. Snape crossed the room and gracefully sank down on the chair that Starkmind had previously used, and then snorted.

"Don't even consider saying it aloud, Severus," Draco said warningly. "I don't say anything about you and Lupin, so it's only fair if you do the same of me and Harry."

That caught Narcissa's undivided attention. "What was that you said?" she inquired.

"Mind your own business, witch," Snape barked.

"Did I hear you correctly, son? Him and Lupin?"

That sparked a new argument between the two adults and Bluestone popped his head into the archway. He smiled at Draco and congratulated the young wizard of the successful hearing. Meanwhile, Harry was rousing from his nap, and it was probably due to the noise. Starry too, stirred, then jumped off the Harry's stomach, stretched her body and sauntered off into the kitchen with her tail held high.

Potter sat up groggily. "I guess everything is all right," he said sleepily.

"What?" Narcissa broke off from her teasing and looked down. "Oh, that. Yes, Draco is not going anywhere. So, nothing to worry about." She paused. "Why don't you two go off somewhere? I have some things to discuss with your Potions Master here."

~*~

They had a congratulatory feast that night. Bluestone and Starkmind's excellent cooking had placed all of them – including Snape – in good spirits. During the meal, Harry could not take his eyes off his boyfriend, still not quite believing that Draco had not been arrested.

Draco, who was aware of the undivided attention, blushed when Snape whispered something into his ear, something that Harry could not catch. The Potions Master was smirking when he straightened in his chair, and his black eyes stared penetratingly at the Gryffindor.

Narcissa was calmer after she had been given a bit of sherry to drink before the meal, and was talking cordially with Bluestone about the recipe he had used to bake the chicken. Harry judged that the witch was a formidable cook herself by the way she talked with the Veela about cakes and exotic dishes. It appeared that she too, had a liking for sweets, and she ate the chocolate cake that Starkmind managed to bake for desert happily.

While Starkmind and Bluestone dealt with the soiled dishes, it was up to the two youngsters to entertain their guests, and the first thing that Narcissa wanted to see was the bedroom that they shared. Snape gave her a look of utter disgust and it really tickled Harry because the wizard followed them anyway.

Draco's mother inspected the room and then nodded in approval. "But Draco." Harry and his boyfriend looked at her expectantly. "I don't know why but this space," the witch gestured at the wall beside the bathroom door, "just seems wrong."

Harry studied the wall but could not find anything wrong with it. It did not look too bare with the painting that Draco had hung on it.

"Put a chest of drawers or a sideboard with something on it ... and a couple of stools," Snape said suddenly.

Harry stared at the Potions Master and then at his boyfriend. "Do we move that back?" he asked Draco, indicating to the small cupboard beside the wardrobe.

Draco considered the suggestion with pursed lips but shook his head. "I'd go for another sideboard and some kind of an indoor potted plant. The extra compartments may come in handy in the future."

"That ought to do it," Narcissa agreed.

The quartet then went upstairs so that they could admire the view from the balcony and then introduced the library to Snape. Harry could have just imagined it, but he saw the wizard twitch slightly with envy when Draco indicated a series of Potions-related volumes to him.

Someone was knocking at the door when the group returned to the living room. Harry opened it to find a plump witch stare at him anxiously. What is Goyle's mother doing here?

"Is that you, Geraldine?" Narcissa called out gaily. "Ah – wait for a moment."

Harry turned to find the witch kissing and embracing Snape and Draco farewell, before he was given the same treatment. She shook Starkmind' and his husband's hand, and started chattering at a high speed with her friend.

"Take care of my boy now, Mister Potter, and it will not hurt to owl me once in a while, Draco. Take good care of Shadow now!"

A carriage waited on the road and the rest of them watched as a very young footman – he seemed to be in his early twenties – helped both witches up on the conveyance. Narcissa poked her head through the window and waved at them before the horses took off and vanished with a loud crack.

"It has been a pretty much exciting day today," Starkmind said, running his fingers through his slightly messy hair. "I think I'm going to retreat to the bathroom and then sleep for a day."

"You can stay for as long as you want, Severus," Bluestone with a slight smile. "You can even borrow some parchment, copy some notes and enclose yourself in the library if you want. As for me, I think I would copy my husband's example. It has been a rather long day."

Harry stared up at the Potions Master, and wondered how the wizard would react to invitation. Snape declined it, and said that he had to go and work in his lab.

"Maybe some other time," the wizard said.

"It's really up to you, Severus. The house is open to you anytime, but please do owl and inform us that you are coming beforehand," Starkmind replied, yawning.

"I will," Snape said a little uneasily. "Take care." Then he stepped out of the house and Apparated away.

"Sometimes I just want to laugh at his actions," Draco said to no one in particular, then gave a penetrating stare at Harry. "What's so troubling about the idea of having people as friends and knowing that there are people who cares for him?"

"How would I know, Draco?" he replied. "I don't think ... or act like him."

"Can you massage my back for me, love? It hurts like hell and the chains that gripped ankles really did hurt my knee."

"They chained you?!" Harry exclaimed, and his eyes bulged horribly.

"Harry," Bluestone intervened quickly, "would you mind locking the door for us and check that the backdoor is secure as well?"

Riveted from the information that Draco had let slip, Harry did all of that and he forgot about it until he nearly dropped off to sleep. He became alert instantly and turned over to study Draco.

"I can't believe they actually placed the chains on you!"

Draco instantly rolled his eyes, pulled him into a deep, fierce kiss, and grounded their hips roughly. Of course, Harry soon could not remember what he wanted to discuss with his boyfriend.

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