Harry Potter and the Dragon

XVI

The Invitation

Lupin the candlestick didn't spare one of Snape's extra-short split seconds before enlightening his stuffmates about his conversation with Master. The initial hopeful grins were soon followed by hushed gossiping and sparkling schemes about what the household could do in order to hasten the imminent event.

One morning, only a couple of days later, when boy and beast were happily engaged in their Quidditch daily program, an interesting scheme developed in the kitchen. A smart rice bowl, decorated with pretty blue flowers of oriental design, came out with an idea that everybody thought made a lot of sense. Why not prepare a special dinner for the boys? In that way, the kitchen personnel could elaborate delicious, aphrodisiac dishes, while the string quartet might select the best and most romantic tunes of their repertoire, and it all could end with a dancing session in the magnificent ballroom the manor possessed, but which unfortunately was under reparation.

"We can wait till it's ready! In the meantime, we could create an interesting menu and the musicians can rehearse a couple of waltzes!" the rice bowl said enthusiastically.

"It's brilliant!" Lupin exclaimed. "It will hopefully help the boys out. Well, we have no time to lose; I must nag the scaffolds, they must finish the work soon, we need the ballroom to be ready for -"

"And do your plans consider telling Master about this?" asked Snape brow raised.

"Of course! But not now. He can easily spoil this wonderful chance to gather the courage and confess his feelings to Harry. We can tell him just a day or two before the dinner," answered the candlestick cheerfully. "If we all work together, we will probably be feasting along with the boys in a week or two!"

However, the calendar proved otherwise. The mending of the chandeliers and walls of the ballroom took as much time as it takes a date to change its surname. At last, the night in which Lupin entered his Master's chamber to announce the upcoming event came, and after obtaining the dragon's approval, he hastily went to bed, so as to be in perfect shape next day and face circumstances with no wax drops.

On the morning of the Big Day, Harry awoke as always, absolutely unaware of the tension that inundated the manor. He got up from his four-poster and found the first hint of oddity lying on his bedroom floor. A sheet, utterly covered by stains that feebly resembled symbols, had been spread over the rug. By using all his imagination, Harry realized that that had to be a letter of some sort. From whom, he didn't have to guess. Grinning widely, he moved towards the night table and woke Ron up.

"Look," Harry said while taking the cup towards the sheet. "It seems he sent me a letter. He's getting wackier every minute. Why not come and tell me what he tried to write?" commented Harry.

"Because he's a dolt," yawned the teacup. "So, you woke me up to see this? Take me back to my bed, please..."

"No way! I wanna read it, go back on your own. Look!" Harry laughed. "It seems he wrote it with chocolate fudge! What a hoggish prat! And look!!!" now Harry had to make a pause before continuing, for he could hardly stop sniggering, "He used Filch's filthy brush pet! There are hairs all over! Ew!"

"What were you expecting? He's a pig!" muttered Ron while jumping back to his night table lodgings.

Harry started to read.

"Dear Horny... What? Must be 'Harry'. Dear Harry,

These... two... mouths we've... These two mouths we've lured together -??? What?! No, wait... These two months we've lived together... have made me realize you're hot... you're not the prick I... thought you were... Mm, nice, he's not sparing compliments here... Actually, I've been smutty... no, smutten... smitten... by your kind friendship -? Does it say 'friendship' here?!"

"I don't know! I'm trying to get asleep!" pointed out Ron a little crossly.

"...and because of that... what?!" Harry exclaimed while trying to make out words from the chocolate splotches. "...and because of that, I've decided to hold a cock... a cocktail and then a baguet... a cocktail and then a baguet... a baguette?"

"A banquet, moron!"

"Yeah, you're right! It must be 'banquet.' A banquet? ...followed by a banquet in your honor..." Harry's midriff contracted. "That's not - I mean - Why is he doing this?" Harry gazed through the window. "I mean - I guess he's being forced by Lupin, yeah, Lupin's surely trying to make him apologize for his constant rudeness..."

"Dunno. Maybe he just wants to be nice to you," said Ron indifferently.

"And why would he want to do that? He treats me like shit, and then throws a party in my honor? Why?"

"'CAUSE HE'S AN ASSHOLE!!" Ron burst out. "He's an asshole, that's why!"

"I know, but still... well... There will be music and... and stuff? Yeah, stuff. I hope... yell... you'll show up in the... dining room? ... at seven...and if you don't... I might get angry... Oh! What a surprise!

Yours, Drac - Dragon. Must be 'Dragon.'"

When taking his eyes away from the letter, Harry noted a parcel standing on top of his desk. Partly guessing what it was, he opened it. He had been right; it was an ethereal piece of fine golden cloth arranged into one of the most beautiful set of robes he had ever seen. For a fleeting moment, Harry thought in what a girl must feel when receiving a gown from her groom as a present, but then he realized that since he had never felt something like that before, he was mulling over matters he knew nothing about. And so he focused on trying the apparel on.

After having walked, sat, and even run with the golden clothes on, Harry took them off, put them carefully on his bed, and left his bedroom to find the dragon. He wanted to know the exact reason why he was planning a feast. Not that he cared that much, a party was a party and it was okay with him, but he felt compelled to ask 'Master' about the details. He came across several household objects but the dragon was nowhere to be seen. When he found Lupin, Harry questioned him about the strange event that was going to take place, but the object only replied that it was a surprise planned by Master, who was going to stay in his private chambers till dinner-time. The boy shrugged deciding he'd go flying alone and, directing his steps to the Quidditch pitch, he departed from the candlestick.

Lupin, who in that precise instant was on his way to the dungeons, sped up. After having plunged downstairs, he entered the dragon's room with these lines: "The boy's been asking questions, Master. It seems he's already read the letter you wrote for him. He wanted to know what was going on..."

"And what did you tell him?" the dragon asked from the massive bathtub in which he had immersed his long, scaled body.

"What we had agreed to say in case he asked something," answered Lupin while pouring a nice-smelling, thick liquid in the tub's water. "He seemed satisfied and went out to play Quidditch."

"Damn prick! He goes to play on his own! I s'pose he's glad to have the whole fucking pitch for himself!" the dragon ejaculated, causing some soapsuds to spread around.

"I know you'd be very happy to join him, but it's been a while since you've had a bath. And you must be in impeccable conditions tonight," said Lupin, smiling.

"SHUT UP! I don't want to think about tonight!" berated the dragon, his stomach lurching.

"You must relax, Master, it's -"

"Did he mention anything about the robes?!"

"Er, actually, we didn't discuss the subject -"

"Ungrateful BASTARD! That's my favorite, most expensive and exquisite set of robes! He should be melting in gratitude!"

"He probably doesn't know they're yours -"

"Did he look happy?! Anxious?! Sad?! Whatever!! What did he look like?!"

"As always -"

"Oh, yeah! Of course! He gives a fuck about everything! He's outside, playing Quidditch! While I'm here, getting all wet!"

"Master, you know you -"

"Did he say anything about the letter? Did he realize I wrote it with chocolate?"

"Well, as I told you, he seems to have read -"

"I bet he didn't understand the hint!! That I finally forgave him for marring my chocolate the day he came here -!!!"

"Master, could you calm down? I'm trying to brush your scales! I can't do it if you insist on moving -!"

"AND WHY ARE YOU BRUSHING ME? CAN'T SOMEONE WHO'S NOT MADE OF FIRE COME AND BRUSH ME INSTEAD?"

"I don't think anyone in the manor is brave enough to cope with you when you're in such an irascible mood! Master, please! You have to relax! Let things happen -!"

"LET THINGS HAPPEN??! YOU TOLD ME EVERYTHING'S ON MY HANDS!! THAT IT ALL DEPENDS ON ME!! HOW DO YOU WANT ME TO FEEL??!! I CAN'T DO THIS, I JUST CAN'T!!!" the dragon moaned.

"Master, listen to me, please! Your yells are not going to change the situation. I know you're nervous, that's not a cinch, but please, try to make this easier for us and for yourself, too!" The dragon remained silent and Lupin continued speaking, as well as polishing his Master's bright hide. "You'll know what to do when the moment comes -"

"Yeah, right! I'll say: 'Hey man! Fancy a heated fuck down there in my dungeons? Don't worry! The straw's fireproof! And now that I come to think of it, you can -'"

"For Merlin's sake! Take things seriously -!"

"I ALREADY TOLD YOU!! I CAN'T - DO - THIS!!"

"Do you care about the boy? Do you want him to see your real self?"

"... yeah, I guess... "

"Well. You'll know what to do, then. And if you need encouragement, let me remind you that the rose is almost dead, there's not much time left -"

"Yeah! That's exactly what I need! Extra pressure!"

Lupin started to scrub his Master's back in order to stop that irritating exchange of views. He inwardly prayed for the dragon to restrain himself from screwing things up, longing to be back in his own body for just a few minutes, to be able to use his wand and then transfigure the bold bratty beast into a mustelid of any kind as punitive measure for his gitness.

In between the dragon's bawls and preliminary arrangements, everything was ready when Snape, looking at his reflection in a mirror, announced that it was seven o' clock.