Loving, Leaving, Bruising, Bleeding

Chapter 2. #Mesmerized

Darkness fell over Malfoy Manor as a pale blue two-horse carriage pulled up to the gates. The driver pulled back slightly. The palomino pair stomped and snorted impatiently. "Quiet down, beasts," grumbled a man in a shabby top hat as he climbed down from the carriage and towards the door. To his amazement, it was already open. His passenger climbed out quietly, a smile lining his face. The tired driver took notice of the boys green eyes, dark hair and glasses. His hair stood up in an odd sort of way but was matted down particularly over his forehead.

"Thanks, mate," Harry Potter spoke quietly. He laid a Galleon in his hand and leaving a puzzled expression on the driver's face, sauntered up the steps of the great old house. His eyes scanned the familiar doors noting no change in the fine wood. Large, brass, snake - shaped knockers protruded from both of them. Great M's were carved in a curling serpent - like pattern.

Harry considered knocking, but chuckled as he regarded how fun it would be to sneak in on Draco. Silently, he turned the knob and pushed the door open. The entrance hall had changed since he'd last known it. The windows seemed to always have the shutters closed, but since then Draco had replaced them with drapes. It was well lit, making it look more extravagant and less eerie. Paintings of the Malfoy family still lined the wall, but there was also a new tapestry hanging on the north wall. It depicted a serpent rearing back in defense. Across from it stood a lion. The snake lunged at the growling beast, sinking it's fangs into it's heart.

In the center sat a statue of a golden phoenix. The wings spread out and the tail extending towards the ground, it looked magnificent. Harry shuffled forward, inspecting it thoughtfully. He ran his hand over the beak. An expression of shock crossed his face. It rose from the ground high into the air. A spiraling staircase was attached to the base of the bird. Harry's interest peaked, he stepped onto it and it began to sink downward into a dimly lit corridor.

***

Draco stared into the mirror. He was certain that the face looking at him was not his. This smile was full of amusement, life and happiness. Feelings that he'd not felt in a very long time. After all this time, he did still have his sense of style. His satin green shirt complimented the black cashmere trousers that covered his pale waist and legs. Draco struggled to keep himself from plastering his hair back. Instead, he let it hang in his eyes. That seemed to be the way that Harry liked it best.

A loud click, click, click sounded causing Draco to spin away from his golden sink and face the closed bathroom door. Someone was entering his fencing room. Could it be Harry? Or maybe it was some unwanted intruder? Draco had taken down the wards around his house after the war. His father's old friends still regarded him as an embellisher of the Dark Arts, so they certainly wouldn't be waiting around to kill him.

Draco strode towards the thick door. He pulled his wand from the pocket of his trousers and used it to spell out the word pureblood across the door. It slid open, revealing his marvelous bedroom. It was once his fathers and most likely the room that he was conceived in, although he did not want to think about that.

***

When Draco first entered the fencing room, he found nothing out of the ordinary. The fencing swords were neatly polished, the fireplace mantel dust-free, and the mirrors spotless. A perplexed expression crossed his face. He swore he'd heard noises coming from the room. Listening hard, the Pureblood turned his attention to the windows. High above him, a white owl was perched on the curtain rack. Draco smiled; recognizing it as the same owl who'd delivered Harry's letter a short time ago. "What are you still doing here, Hedwig? Go on back to your home."

The owl flew down off its perch and landed once more on Draco's shoulder. It nipped at his earlobe. Draco turned and strode from the room. He could feel her pull free from his shoulder. The beautiful bird circled around his head once and then soared down the hall and into Draco's bedroom. It landed on the black satin sheets, spread its wide wings and hooted softly. "Hedwig! What are you doing? Go on; get off my bed!"

The tips of the bird's wings turned to tan fingers. Arms covered in a long sleeved red shirt formed. Broad shoulders and defined muscles were quite noticeable. Draco was dumbfounded as Harry Potter's familiar face took shape.

"Hello, darling."