-
- "Harry!" A
voice called him from the front porch. Harry glanced up from
the lake and stood, dusting off his slacks as he turned to face
his Godfather. "Coming, Sirius!" At twenty-two, Harry
was fresh out of university. He tried to smooth his unruly hair,
his fingers brushing lightly across the lightning bolt shaped
scar that marred his forehead, the result of the accident as
a child that had taken both his parents lives.
For most of his life Harry had lived with his mother's relations,
the Dursleys. They had treated Harry as an abomination and a
burden, treating him no better than the servants in the household
and hiding from Harry the knowledge that he was, in fact, an
heir to a quite considerable fortune. A fortune that Harry had
collected when he turned 18 and had been 'rescued,' so to speak,
by his Godfather, Sirius Black, recently returned from abroad.
Harry lived with Sirius and his Godfather's longtime friend Remus
Lupin. In the past four years the two had been inseperable, and
Harry suspected the attatchment went much further back than that.
He entered the front of the mansion, settled comfortably in the
countryside of Godric's Hollow, which took its name from that
great estate.
His Godfather greeted him with an embrace and handed him the
letter, his dark eyes sparkling with excitement. Remus looked
up serenely from the couch where he sat reading and smiled once
as Harry opened the letter.
"It's from Ron" He grinned, scanning the contents quickly.
"He hopes I'm having a good holiday and invites me to spend
the summer months with his family at the Burrow." A slim
dark brow arched. "And he wishes to acquaint me 'most passionately'
to a Miss Hermione Granger of Lambton." Harry laughed before
continuing, his brow furrowing at what he read next.. "He
states that his family is going to be spending the fortnight
at Dumbledore's estate, but that Dumbledore has extended the
invitation to myself in the hopes that I might attend the ball
he's holding on Friday, next." Eager green eyes looked up
to meet his Godfather's and he smiled. "I am allowed to
attend, I hope? You won't miss me too dreadfully?"
Sirius laughed, exchanging a look with Remus. "Of course
I'll miss you! We both will, won't we Remus?"
The grey haired man smiled pleasantly. "Of course, Harry.
We shall miss you. But we would not dream of keeping you from
such an exciting event."
Harry grinned, thanking them both before hurrying upstairs to
pack for the journey from Godric's Hollow to Hogwarts, an easy
distance indeed on 50 miles of good road.
~_~_~
The carriage pulled up in front of the rather forboding but still
picturesque estate of Hogwarts. Harry stepped out, brushing the
dust from traveling from his dark green coat that brought out
the brilliance of his green eyes.
He leaned back, slipping the brown top hat onto his head and
craning his neck, eyeing the mansion, windows alight. He could
make out people's forms inside, dancing, talking, sitting and
playing cards. He tugged at the waistband of his coat lightly
before walking to the entrance.
Once inside, the ball atmosphere was contagious.
"Potter! I say, Potter!" a cheerful voice bellowed
from within. Harry turned and grinned, seeing his longtime friend
Ron Weasley coming towards him, a lovely girl on his arm that
Harry recalled by the name of Miss Granger. She smiled, her eyes
sparkling with wit as she embraced him.
Ron was blushing almost red enough to match his hair, threatening
to overpower his maroon coat that was just barely starting to
show signs of wear around the cuffs. Harry noticed his gloved
hand closed tightly around Miss Granger's and he smiled knowingly
before Ron even opened his mouth.
"I believe congratulations are in order?" He asked,
a smile curving his lips.
Ron's enthusiastic grin confirmed that his suspicions were correct.
Harry bowed and kissed Miss Granger's hand as Ron introduced
them. "Hermione, I want you to meet Harry Potter. My best
mate these ten years at least."
Hermione curtsied politely and smiled. "I'm honored to make
your acquaintance, Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley has told me so much
about you." Her hair was arranged attractively in curls
that framed her face and piled elegantly on her head.
The trio walked together towards the ballroom itself, Harry and
Ron chatting about past adventures in school and Hermione laughing
cheerfully at their stories.
"Why, Mr. Potter. Here I thought that Ron was the wild one
of the pair of you! Now I see all his mischief was your idea."
She teased.
"Pfft. You think that's mischief?" Harry grinned back,
instantly at ease with Miss Granger as if he had grown up with
her and Ron both. "I'm sure Ron has told you about his brothers,
Fred and George, and all the trouble they've caused in the Regiment
with their jokes?" Harry's eyes scanned the ballroom as
the three entered, settling on an arrogant looking fellow standing
opposite him, an expression of abject boredom sitting on his
features.
The gentleman was dressed impeccably in the latest fashion, his
coat a deep royal blue that seemed almost purple. Expensive Indigo
dye, he would guess, even from this distance in the candlelit
ballroom. The darkness of the dye contrasted with the paleness
of his hair, so blonde and fine it looked like flax. Harry's
gaze continued downward to the impeccably tailored trousers and
fine boots, polished to a high shine. As he drew his gaze back
up he blushed to notice his study had not gone unnoticed. The
young man arched a fine brow, blue locked with green across the
crowded dance. Harry was intrigued by the arrogance contained
in that look, feeling himself drawn under its power. The gaze
was broken only as the trio was interrupted by Ron's younger
sister, Ginny. He smiled fondly at her and complimented her gown,
noting the blush that stained her features as she smiled back
shyly.
Ginny was the only girl in the Weasley clan, and as such, she
and Harry had been intended for each other nearly since her birth.
Now finally at a marriageable age, both Harry's family and the
Weasleys expected an announcement of engagement. Ginny was, after
all, the only sister of Harry's best friend and Harry certainly
had no other attachments. Yet Harry hesitated, still. Not wanting
to push Ginny into a marriage with him merely because it was
expected. Well, that was what he told himself. Ginny seemed to
have little problem accepting their match as inevitable and had
the good grace to enjoy his company exclusively.
When he glanced back to where the gentleman had been he was gone.
Harry frowned, but was distracted this time by his friend Ron.
He barely noticed when Hermione excused herself for a moment
and left Harry with Ron and Ginny. Harry asked pleasantly about
their parents' health, his eyes wandering around the room as
Ron pointed out various relations. He saw Ron's oldest brother
Bill chatting with their host, Dumbledore, near the refreshments.
He finally discerned Percy's figure in the corner, chatting with
a soft spoken fellow Harry knew to be Neville Longbottom. The
aforementioned twins, Fred and George, were playing a rousing
game of cards across the hall in the parlor, and Mr and Mrs.
Weasley were seated at a table nearby, involved in lively conversation
with their son Charlie, who also happened to be Commanding Officer
of the Regiment. One of the reasons that Fred and George were
able to get away with as much mischief as they liked.
It was at that moment Hermione reappeared, attached to the mysterious
gentleman Harry had seen before. Harry had rarely seen his friend
anything but friendly, but as the blonde joined their party,
Ron's features hardened. His normally good humored brown eyes
darkening and looking as welcoming as granite, a sentiment echoed
in the eyes of the blonde. Harry noticed a small muscle twitch
in the blonde's throat and was startled out of his daze by Ron's
angry voice.
"Hermione, darling. What is HE doing here?"
Hermione arched a brow at her husband to be, startling Harry
with her ability to hold her ground. "Mr. Malfoy is a longstanding
friend of my family, Mr. Weasley. He was invited here at my request."
She then turned to Harry and smiled. "Mr. Potter, I would
be pleased to make your acquaintance to Mr. Malfoy."
Harry extended his hand hesitantly after glancing at Ron, who
looked fit to kill. "Harry Potter. A pleasure, sir."
Draco eyed him lazily before extending his hand in return, his
voice a slow drawl. "Draco Malfoy." Their palms touched
only briefly before Draco pulled his hand back, as if he were
afraid of contracting a disease. Harry glowered, affronted.
Hermione coughed politely and introduced Draco to Ginny. Harry
stiffened, feeling protective of Ginny instinctively. Draco seemed
to notice this, a grin forming at the corners of his lips as
he touched his lips to the back of Ginny's palm. "I would
like to inquire if you are engaged for the two-next, Miss Weasley?
If not I would be overjoyed for the pleasure of your company."
His voice was low and seductive. Harry couldn't help but shiver
at the intimate, dulcet tones.
Ginny looked bewildered, her eyes glancing wildly from Harry
and Ron's faces as she blushed. "I-I am not engaged, Mr.
Malfoy." She took his hand hesitantly and Draco smirked
at Harry and Ron before walking off towards the dance floor.
Ron looked ready to spit fire, his eyes dangerously hot. Harry's
feelings towards Malfoy were no less amicable and he bristled,
watching the couple start to dance.
Ron exploded at Hermione, who gave him a glare and an indignant
"Men!" before storming off to join the Weasleys, smiling
cheerfully at her future in-laws.
"Who is he, Ron?" Harry asked softly, his eyes never
leaving the pair. He stiffened as Draco said something apparently
witty and Ginny laughed, her face an open smile.
"Draco Malfoy. One of the most unpleasant men I've ever
had in my acquaintance. Rude, patronizing, and too rich even
for him." Ron snorted derisively. "Hermione's family
is acquainted with them. They're from the same county-Lambton.
But Malfoy has always made it quite clear who's family is superior
to the other. He rarely associates with anyone. Insufferably
proud."
Draco chose that moment to face their direction, his eyes locking
gazes with Harry's once more, another smile curling at the corners
of his mouth, but this one almost sinister in its temper.
"He's intent on Ginny, then?" Harry asked flatly, his
eyes flashing angrily.
Ron shook his head, confused. "He's never been acquainted
with her before. But I guarantee that this is the last time she
dances with the likes of him!"
- ~_~_~
The next afternoon found Harry alone at Hogwarts. Or so he thought.
The Weasleys had undertaken a visit to the Regiment and Harry
had declined, begging tiredness from his long journey to Hogwarts.
He was slightly fatigued, but had desired the time alone to muse
on the occurrences the night before at the ball. As he wandered
down the grand staircase he was hailed by his host, Dumbledore.
Harry bowed, thanking Dumbledore for his great kindness in extending
the invitation meant for the Weasleys to include himself.
Dumbledore laughed pleasantly, his old gray eyes twinkling. "From
what I hear, young man, you shall not long be separated from
the Weasley clan, eh Mr. Potter?"
Harry had colored and Dumbledore chuckled. "Perhaps you
would fancy a game of billiards, Mr. Potter? I am not much for
the game myself but I have a fine table in the West Drawing Room
that is very comfortable for solitaire, so I'm told."
Harry's eyes lit up, as billiards was one of the few games he
enjoyed. He considered it nearly a sport and had spent many hours
at university becoming quite skilled. He thanked his host before
walking off in search of the West Drawing Room, not seeing, in
his enthusiasm, the knowing smile upon Dumbledore's face.
The West Drawing Room proved to be exceedingly difficult to find.
Harry would swear the staircases moved on him when he wasn't
looking. At last he poked his head into the correct doorway,
his eyes falling on the fine table and the equally fine body
that was bent over the table.
Malfoy held the cue firmly in his hands, taking no notice of
Potter as he entered, invading his privacy. With a calculated
gaze he took his shot, finally stretching, placing on hand on
the small of his back to massage the muscles there. Harry held
his breath as he waited to be discovered, studying Malfoy intently
from the rear. His overcoat was discarded, draped casually over
an armchair and leaving him in only a simple waistcoat and blouse
over another pair of fine trousers and boots.
At last the blonde turned, regarding him with some astonishment
as well as embarassement. Harry flushed. "E-excuse me, Malfoy.
Dumbledore suggested I play a round of billiards I had no idea
that I would find you here." He regained his nerve by the
end of his speech, squaring his shoulders and narrowing his eyes
at the man before him.
Draco arched a brow, quickly recovering from the surprise. "Indeed,
Potter. Dumbledore suggested to me the very same thing. And as
I was here first" he trailed off suggestively and looked
away, studying Potter beneath pale lashes, praying the room was
dark enough to conceal the faint blush that stained his cheeks.
He turned his back to the other man, attempting to concentrate
once more on his game.
Harry glared, presented once more with Malfoy's backside. "Solitaire
isn't enjoyable anyway, Malfoy." He ventured smoothly. "Why
not prove yourself the man you're reputed to be?" His fingers
were balled tightly into fists as he waited, outwardly calm,
for Malfoy's response.
Draco turned around again, his expression once more that controlled
mask of arrogance. A smirk twisted over the aristocratic features
that reminded Harry of the glance across the dance floor when
Malfoy had been dancing with Ginny. "I assure you, my reputation
is exactly as it appears to be." The blonde replied calmly.
"And what can be said for the Boy Who Talks Big?"
Harry grabbed a cue from the rack at random, giving the impression
he did not have much care for which cue he selected nor the game
in general. Quite the opposite was actually running through Harry's
mind. "Shall we discuss the stakes, Malfoy?" He said,
chalking the tip of the cue casually.
Draco narrowed his eyes. "What do you have in mind?"
His voice was clipped, indifferent.
Harry set the cue aside, bending over the table to arrange the
two balls opposite the cue ball. "Three lives.
Every time one of us wins, they get to ask a question. Deal?"
His gaze was clear and honest, meeting Malfoy's earnestly.
"Done. But I get to go first."
"Done."
|