Harry Potter and The White Queen (BP3)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
49
Views:
28,196
Reviews:
234
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
49
Views:
28,196
Reviews:
234
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Blood and Marriage
Chapter Number/Total: 15/49
Chapter Title: Blood and Marriage
Words: 3878 Words
"As I said," said Aberforth, "he hasn't exactly been in the best of moods lately." He pulled his wand and poked at the boulder in front of them. "Don't let whatever he may say get to you," he added in an undertone to Harry.
Harry wished it were so easy.
Draco snorted. Aberforth's words were not helping his nerves any.
Snape appeared and his eyes narrowed immediately when he saw them. "I only sent for you," he said to Draco.
"And here I am," Draco said, with a mocking bow.
"It's sort of a package deal," Harry said, raising an eyebrow. "Especially now." Harry had to be utterly mad for saying something like that to Snape, but he was still angry from the last time he had seen the man.
"We'd better get inside," Snape sneered, ignoring Harry. He stepped up and took hold of Draco's arm, Apparating them without another word.
Aberforth looked at Harry sternly as if to say, "That was uncalled for", but took his arm and Apparated them inside as well.
Draco pulled his arm from Snape's as soon as they arrived in the room and walked over to stand by the small table.
Snape grimaced. "Did you kill him or did Potter?"
The blond's face hardened. "Yes," he said. And then the other two appeared.
Harry walked over to Draco quickly, staring at Snape, but not glaring or saying anything.
Aberforth moved silently to the table and sat down.
Draco's eyes were narrowed and he was still frowning at his Godfather.
The older man turned and with a flick of his wand, brought tea service to the table. He gestured for them to sit.
Harry frowned slightly and sat down. It always started off all right, but it never ended that way. It had always been so between him and Snape.
Draco regarded his Godfather for a few more seconds and then took his seat beside Harry.
"You have been in the news a great deal lately," Snape said as he poured the tea. From anyone else it might have been casual conversation.
Here it comes, thought Harry.
Aberforth nodded in agreement with Snape, regarding them all with his blue eyes.
Draco added sugar and milk to his tea, taking a sip as he stared at Snape.
"So, Mr. Malfoy, you are now the Lord of the Manor," Snape continued. "How did that come about?"
Harry's eyes narrowed slightly. "Surely you know," he said.
Snape ignored Harry, his eyes never leaving Draco.
"Father ... forced a confrontation ... and lost," Draco said, looking up at Snape at the last two words. "Where is my mother?"
Snape frowned, looking down into his tea. "I don't know where she is ... and neither does He."
Harry frowned, glancing at Draco quickly.
Draco held his face immobile. "Then she could still be alive."
"I believe so," Snape said, glancing up at him.
"You don't have any idea where she could be at all?" asked Harry. "Why would she just pick up and leave without telling anyone where she was going?"
Snape frowned, glancing at Harry but not answering him.
"We could offer her sanctuary," Draco began, glancing at Harry, "if she would accept it."
"Yes, of course," said Harry. "Would she have a reason not to?"
Both men looked at Harry this time. Snape snorted and looked away again.
"You have told me a certain story about your house-elf, Harry," Draco said. "Her loyalties are ... complex."
Harry winced. "But you're her son," he said quietly, but he didn't say anything else. Draco had been Lucius' son, too, and what he had considered fatherly had been ... He shuddered just thinking about it.
"If I have the opportunity," Snape continued guardedly, "I will convey your invitation to your mother."
Draco nodded and then reached inside his robes and pulled out two folded parchments. One was addressed to Severus Snape and the other to Narcissa Malfoy. He laid them in front of his Godfather.
Harry watched Snape's face, wondering what he would do when he saw what the parchments were for.
Snape looked at the envelopes, frowning. "So you plan on going through with this charade," he said with a sigh.
Draco smiled sadly. "I plan on marrying my husband publicly."
Snape's head snapped up at that and he looked intently at Draco and then between him and Harry.
Was it possible that Snape didn't know they were already married? Harry raised an eyebrow, staring at his former professor.
Draco smiled. "Yes, the blood bond is both ways now," he said in answer to the unasked question.
"And the Manor accepted it?" Snape asked, looking more curious than angry for a change.
Draco nodded, one eyebrow raised. "Completely."
Harry still didn't know too much about all the blood magic or why it was so incredibly remarkable that the Manor had accepted him. He stayed quiet like Aberforth, simply watching the scene.
Snape was quiet for a moment, apparently thinking about the implications of this news. Then he picked up the parchments and tucked them in his robes. "How public will the outer ceremony be?" he asked.
Draco relaxed, clearly relieved by Snape's reaction. He cocked his head. "It will be limited for security reasons and held at the Manor. Only those who are invited will be able to pass the wards."
Harry was looking at Snape with increasing disbelief. He had expected a screaming, disgusted Snape, or at least a sneering one. Was the man sitting before him actually contemplating coming to their wedding?
"The exceptions are your problem," Snape said.
Draco nodded again. "I have thought of that. But they would be greatly outnumbered if they did try anything."
"Never underestimate your family, Draco," Snape said quietly. "It cost your father his life, apparently."
Harry thought it was best to stay out of this conversation for the most part. It seemed to be going pretty decently without him, and he didn't know what to say anyway.
Draco winced but nodded. "I will keep that in mind," he said softly.
Snape snorted and reached in his robes pulling out another piece of paper and handed it to Draco. He looked at it, puzzled, and then handed it to Harry.
"It's from a record of Rowena Ravenclaw," Snape explained. "The book this was copied from says she always wore this as it was a gift. It disappeared from a collection in a mysterious house fire twenty years ago."
Harry took the paper and looked down at the drawing of a beautiful brooch. "Twenty years ago," he said slowly. "It would fit. That's around the time Voldemort was making his later Horcruxes." He paused, looking up at Snape now. "We found another and destroyed it. The locket and now Hufflepuff's cup is ours, too."
Snape's eyebrows rose. Acknowledging Harry for the first time since they arrived, he asked, "Where was it?"
"The basement of the church next to his mother's grave," said Harry.
Snape didn't smile, but the look he gave Draco and even, grudgingly, Harry, seemed pleased. "And how did you destroy it?"
Harry winced and closed his eyes for a second. "Draco did," he said quietly. "He had to drink Voldemort's blood from the cup to destroy it."
Snape's head snapped back to Draco so suddenly it looked like he had been slapped. "You what?!" He was shaking now and looking paler than usual.
Aberforth's eyes grew large and he looked slightly alarmed.
Draco winced. "It has been ... purged ... from my body," he said quietly.
Harry winced again. "Draco is the only one of us who can destroy the soul pieces. Because of our binding promise I can ... push ... Voldemort back out of him."
Aberforth was still looking wide-eyed. "Couldn't that kill him? It's what was killing Albus - destroying a Horcrux."
"The binding promise saved him," Harry said quietly. "I can push Voldemort back out of him," he repeated.
Snape put his face in his hands. "You are using him to destroy them," he whispered.
"Severus," Draco said, reaching his hand out, laying it on the table in front of his Godfather. "I want this," he continued, "it's better than what He had planned for me."
Harry couldn't help but go defensive at Snape's words. "I am not using him to destroy them," he said. "If you think for one second that I want him to do it, you're mad. I've begged him to let me do it, but he insists."
Snape scowled, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Harry. But before he could say anything, Draco reached further and took one of his hands. The man was startled and looked up into those grey eyes.
"I have my part to play in this," Draco said. "Just as you do."
Snape closed his eyes and sighed, nodding. He squeezed Draco's hand quickly, but then pulled away. "You should be going now," he said abruptly.
Harry was still staring at Snape with a frown on his face and he raised an eyebrow and then looked to Draco.
Draco shrugged and got up. This time he held his hand out to his Godfather, who frowned but took it anyway. Then Apparated them from the room.
Harry sighed and got to his feet, waiting for Aberforth.
Aberforth got to his feet as well, grasping Harry's arm. "Two Horcruxes in such a short time is near miraculous," he said.
Harry nodded. "I didn't expect to find them so soon," he said.
"Nor did I expect you to. People have high expectations of you, but I also think you are greatly underestimated."
Harry didn't quite know what to say to that.
"I've never felt more sure that we will win this war," said Aberforth seriously and then he Apparated them outside the rock.
Draco smiled when Harry appeared and stepped to his side, taking his hand and Apparating them back to the Manor.
Harry took a few seconds to gain his balance after an Apparation from such a distance but then turned to Draco with raised eyebrows. "That went considerably better than I would have expected," he said. "No shouting at all and information about a possible Horcrux."
Draco smiled, leaning in and kissing Harry. "Let's tell the others," he said, and then looking seriously at Harry. "And I suppose you have some questions of your own."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, but let's tell Ron and Hermione first," he said, walking from the entrance hall to go and find his friends.
Draco followed Harry into room where Hermione and Ron were waiting. He felt oddly subdued now and found himself thinking through the conversation with his Godfather.
"How did it go?" asked Hermione upon setting eyes on Harry and Draco.
"All right actually," said Harry, walking forward and pulling the parchment that Snape had given them from his pocket. "We got more information about a possible Horcrux. Snape said that it went missing from a private collection twenty years ago."
Hermione took the parchment and Ron looked at it over her shoulder.
Draco walked over to the window, looking out at the grounds. How long had it been since he had just walked outdoors?
"Ravenclaw's?" asked Hermione, looking up at Harry.
Harry nodded.
"Twenty years ago. Sounds right to me," she said.
Harry nodded again.
"Well, we need to find out the location now," said Ron. "If that's it."
"I'd say it probably is and yeah, I know," said Harry. "I still want to go to Godric's Hollow. I actually planned on going much sooner, but, with everything that's happened, I haven't been able. I don't know what I could find there, if anything at all, but I do want to go."
Draco glanced over his shoulder. "Do we all go?" he asked.
Harry looked up at him. "I suppose," he said.
"We're with you, Harry," said Ron. "Wherever you go, we follow."
Harry gave him a small smile.
Draco nodded, his gaze returning to the gardens. "Can it wait until after this weekend?" he asked.
"Sure. There's not a time limit," said Harry, walking over to Draco and leaning against the wall beside the window. "But why this weekend?"
Draco smirked, looking back at Ron. "We have a Quidditch game this weekend and I haven't been on a broom since before ..." he looked down at the construct hand, "before we left Hogwarts."
"Ah, right," said Harry, smiling.
"I owled Fred and George and told them to tell Bill and Charlie," said Ron, grinning.
Harry nodded. "Great," he said. "If Bill comes, Fleur will probably come too, and that means we'll probably have to set up when to go to Diagon Alley, so we'll probably have to wait even longer to go to Godric's Hollow."
"We can go after," said Hermione, folding up the parchment she was still holding and tucking it into her pocket.
"Yeah," said Harry. "No rush or anything and we can try to look up some things about that brooch. It might give us some ideas about where to look."
Draco nodded, his expression still far-away. Two days to practise before everyone showed up. He made a fist and relaxed the construct, wondering at whether or not he could still play.
Harry glanced at Draco's face and then at his construct hand. He frowned slightly, looking away. He suddenly remembered what Draco had said about the arm being heavy. He imagined that might be sort of hard to handle on a broomstick. "You want to take that walk?" he asked, looking up again.
Draco looked up a bit startled. "Sure," he answered, smiling at Harry.
Harry smiled, too. "We're going outside for a bit, guys," he said.
"Okay," said Hermione absently as she turned back to her book.
Ron looked at her as if to ask, Why are you so boring? "I guess I'll go polish my broom," he said. "We should go out for a fly later."
"Maybe," said Harry, holding out his hand for Draco to take.
Draco smirked at Ron's comment, but let the chance to tease him pass. He put his hand in Harry's and allowed himself to be led out.
Harry led Draco to the front doors of the Manor, realising that after half a month here, he still hadn't technically been outside the place. "Lead the way to wherever it is you want to go out here," he said once they were outside. He turned his head to look around and take in his surroundings.
Draco realised they had gone out the front door and looked around. He rarely used the front door, usually preferring the rose gardens in back and travelling by Apparation. He shrugged and followed the walkway around the manor. "This was a moat in past generations," he said absently, looking at the stone path.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Wow," he said, nodding. They walked along in silence for a bit. "So, Snape," he said.
Draco should not have been caught off guard by the change in topic, but he was. He had been ruminating on the changes in architecture of British homes. Truly. But here Harry was, asking him about his Godfather, and the blond's steps faltered. He took a breath. "Yes, Snape," he said.
Harry raised an eyebrow at Draco's reaction, but he didn't say anything about it. "Um, well, he acted a bit ... different this time," he said.
Draco's response was somewhere between a laugh and a grimace. "Yes, he did," he said. Draco didn't know why he just didn't explain it to Harry instead of waiting for the other man to ask, but that was what he wanted, the asking.
Harry frowned slightly. "Well, why did he act that way?" he asked slowly, turning his head to look at Draco.
Draco shook his head. Subtle was not Harry Potter. They were on the east side of the Manor and he led Harry over to a bench and gestured for him to sit. He didn't know how to explain this without another of his lectures on Wizarding culture. He considered how to get this across to the Muggle-raised Potter. "You know, one would assume that all Muggles accepted a marriage between two men if one went by your reactions," he began.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Well, they don't," he said. "You saw how my relatives acted."
"Yes," Draco grimaced, "I did. And you have seen a number of different reactions toward our relationship from Wizards. Did you realise that not one member of my house said anything about the fact that my sexual partner was male? Only that it was you?"
Harry shrugged. "I didn't pay that much attention, but now that you mention it, yes," he said.
Draco shook his head again, always disturbed by the nuances that Harry missed. "This is where blood and class differences become important again," he said. "I know you hate this stuff but it really does matter."
Harry sighed, but nodded. "Well, what is it?" he asked.
"You are probably somewhat aware that among pure-bloods of my station, marrying and having children with another pure-blood is considered ... essential." He paused, waiting for Harry's reaction before continuing.
Harry frowned and stared at his hands, having not thought about that at all. "Well ... I'm not a pure-blood, or a woman," he said quietly.
"No, you are not," Draco said, "and that means that my family would never approve of a marriage contract with you on either count. Even if you weren't ... well, who you are. Our marriages are arranged and approved by our parents."
"I think that's ridiculous," said Harry. "But you probably could have guessed that. I would never marry for anything but love." He paused. "Do you think your mother would disapprove?"
"Yes," Draco said without hesitation, "for the reasons I gave. But that's what is so complicated about reactions. Because marriages are arranged contracts between families, it means that love is not expected to be part of it. Nor are we expected to go without love or sex with someone we desire. Affairs are accepted practise."
Harry's frown deepened. "I wouldn't like having a marriage like that at all," he said. "I wouldn't feel ... married."
"So I gathered." Draco smirked, shaking his head. "You bound me monogamously before we were even married."
"Well, that was an accident, but I meant what I said," Harry said with a shifty look at Draco. "You wouldn't want to be with anyone else ... would you?"
"The point I am trying to make, is that affairs with men or women are not uncommon and don't have the kind of moral stigma among my class that they do among those classes who usually marry for love." Draco sighed. "But the initial binding made me ineligible for marriage. By their view, you took something from my family. You took away the marriage contract rights of the only heir to the Malfoy estate."
Harry already knew that he had taken Draco's rights. "Well, all right, but what does any of this have to do with Snape? I mean, I understand what it would have to do with your mum, but ... what exactly are you trying to tell me?"
Draco sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. What was he trying to tell Harry? It was like speaking a language Harry didn’t even know - Draco often got lost in the translation. "It means that, as my Godfather, as the man who took a vow to look out for my interests, our binding put him in a very difficult position," Draco said, not able to completely keep the annoyance out of his voice now.
Harry made a face. "Well, I don't give a damn what he wants or anybody else. I'll marry you if I bloody well want to."
Draco groaned, sometimes just wanting to grab Harry and shake him. The next minute, wanting to throw him to the ground and shag him senseless. He turned his back instead, trying to remember what he was explaining. "You don't see it. The person who had the right to block a marriage of the heir is the head of the family, the Lord of the Manor. My father. But he is dead."
"So then you can do what you want," Harry said, wondering why Draco had turned away from him.
"Except that I can't, not really," Draco said. "The magics of this place have ... requirements." Draco was getting a headache trying to explain this to the other man.
Harry huffed. "Now I'm confused, Draco," he said. "Are you saying we can't get married now?"
Draco's laugh was the kind that spoke more of confusion than amusement. He started pacing again. "That's just it. The blood magic in the Manor has already accepted us as married. We are joined more completely than the legal ceremony could ever do. Severus' attitude changed when he heard that."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Okay ..." he said slowly. "So that's good then ... right? And what are the 'requirements' that the Manor has?" He still sounded a bit confused.
Draco winced, coming full circle here and not feeling like he was getting anywhere. "It means that until now, the Manor has never accepted a union that didn't include a pure-blood wizard and witch who were both capable of producing an heir. It has always been assumed that the magics in this place would insure the continuation of the Malfoy bloodline. I think that is part of what my father counted on."
"So ... it accepted us when it shouldn't have?" Harry asked slowly.
"Or the magics in this place have provisions we didn't know about? Or know something we don't? Or ..." Draco huffed, "or I am just guessing here. But I think my Godfather was pleased with it, whatever it is."
"Er, okay, I guess," said Harry, eyebrows still raised.
"So that didn't make much sense to you did it?" Draco asked, feeling rather put out by his inability to communicate with Harry.
"Well ... it made sense ... but, I just ... don't really understand the point. I mean, unless there's something we need to do about it ..." He frowned slightly at Draco.
Draco took a deep breath and sat down on the bench next to Harry, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He loved Harry, but moments like this made him feel alone. "I love you," he said quietly, "I guess that is all that matters for now. I will let you know if I figure the rest out."
Harry sighed. Now he felt like he had done something wrong. "Okay," he said quietly.
"And, yes, I think he will attend the ceremony," Draco said, smiling a bit.
Harry sighed again. "Well ... that's good," he said for Draco's benefit. "You know, I hadn't thought of it before, but if he comes, I think there'll need to be some sort of explanation for everyone else. There is no way they're all just going to buy, 'Well he's Draco's Godfather, so there'."
"He would probably be in some sort of disguise," Draco said. "I doubt he would risk exposure at this point."
"Yeah," said Harry. "That would probably be better."
"Shall I show you the roses?" Draco smiled, taking Harry's hand again.
Harry smiled, too. "Sure," he said, getting to his feet again.
Chapter Title: Blood and Marriage
Words: 3878 Words
"As I said," said Aberforth, "he hasn't exactly been in the best of moods lately." He pulled his wand and poked at the boulder in front of them. "Don't let whatever he may say get to you," he added in an undertone to Harry.
Harry wished it were so easy.
Draco snorted. Aberforth's words were not helping his nerves any.
Snape appeared and his eyes narrowed immediately when he saw them. "I only sent for you," he said to Draco.
"And here I am," Draco said, with a mocking bow.
"It's sort of a package deal," Harry said, raising an eyebrow. "Especially now." Harry had to be utterly mad for saying something like that to Snape, but he was still angry from the last time he had seen the man.
"We'd better get inside," Snape sneered, ignoring Harry. He stepped up and took hold of Draco's arm, Apparating them without another word.
Aberforth looked at Harry sternly as if to say, "That was uncalled for", but took his arm and Apparated them inside as well.
Draco pulled his arm from Snape's as soon as they arrived in the room and walked over to stand by the small table.
Snape grimaced. "Did you kill him or did Potter?"
The blond's face hardened. "Yes," he said. And then the other two appeared.
Harry walked over to Draco quickly, staring at Snape, but not glaring or saying anything.
Aberforth moved silently to the table and sat down.
Draco's eyes were narrowed and he was still frowning at his Godfather.
The older man turned and with a flick of his wand, brought tea service to the table. He gestured for them to sit.
Harry frowned slightly and sat down. It always started off all right, but it never ended that way. It had always been so between him and Snape.
Draco regarded his Godfather for a few more seconds and then took his seat beside Harry.
"You have been in the news a great deal lately," Snape said as he poured the tea. From anyone else it might have been casual conversation.
Here it comes, thought Harry.
Aberforth nodded in agreement with Snape, regarding them all with his blue eyes.
Draco added sugar and milk to his tea, taking a sip as he stared at Snape.
"So, Mr. Malfoy, you are now the Lord of the Manor," Snape continued. "How did that come about?"
Harry's eyes narrowed slightly. "Surely you know," he said.
Snape ignored Harry, his eyes never leaving Draco.
"Father ... forced a confrontation ... and lost," Draco said, looking up at Snape at the last two words. "Where is my mother?"
Snape frowned, looking down into his tea. "I don't know where she is ... and neither does He."
Harry frowned, glancing at Draco quickly.
Draco held his face immobile. "Then she could still be alive."
"I believe so," Snape said, glancing up at him.
"You don't have any idea where she could be at all?" asked Harry. "Why would she just pick up and leave without telling anyone where she was going?"
Snape frowned, glancing at Harry but not answering him.
"We could offer her sanctuary," Draco began, glancing at Harry, "if she would accept it."
"Yes, of course," said Harry. "Would she have a reason not to?"
Both men looked at Harry this time. Snape snorted and looked away again.
"You have told me a certain story about your house-elf, Harry," Draco said. "Her loyalties are ... complex."
Harry winced. "But you're her son," he said quietly, but he didn't say anything else. Draco had been Lucius' son, too, and what he had considered fatherly had been ... He shuddered just thinking about it.
"If I have the opportunity," Snape continued guardedly, "I will convey your invitation to your mother."
Draco nodded and then reached inside his robes and pulled out two folded parchments. One was addressed to Severus Snape and the other to Narcissa Malfoy. He laid them in front of his Godfather.
Harry watched Snape's face, wondering what he would do when he saw what the parchments were for.
Snape looked at the envelopes, frowning. "So you plan on going through with this charade," he said with a sigh.
Draco smiled sadly. "I plan on marrying my husband publicly."
Snape's head snapped up at that and he looked intently at Draco and then between him and Harry.
Was it possible that Snape didn't know they were already married? Harry raised an eyebrow, staring at his former professor.
Draco smiled. "Yes, the blood bond is both ways now," he said in answer to the unasked question.
"And the Manor accepted it?" Snape asked, looking more curious than angry for a change.
Draco nodded, one eyebrow raised. "Completely."
Harry still didn't know too much about all the blood magic or why it was so incredibly remarkable that the Manor had accepted him. He stayed quiet like Aberforth, simply watching the scene.
Snape was quiet for a moment, apparently thinking about the implications of this news. Then he picked up the parchments and tucked them in his robes. "How public will the outer ceremony be?" he asked.
Draco relaxed, clearly relieved by Snape's reaction. He cocked his head. "It will be limited for security reasons and held at the Manor. Only those who are invited will be able to pass the wards."
Harry was looking at Snape with increasing disbelief. He had expected a screaming, disgusted Snape, or at least a sneering one. Was the man sitting before him actually contemplating coming to their wedding?
"The exceptions are your problem," Snape said.
Draco nodded again. "I have thought of that. But they would be greatly outnumbered if they did try anything."
"Never underestimate your family, Draco," Snape said quietly. "It cost your father his life, apparently."
Harry thought it was best to stay out of this conversation for the most part. It seemed to be going pretty decently without him, and he didn't know what to say anyway.
Draco winced but nodded. "I will keep that in mind," he said softly.
Snape snorted and reached in his robes pulling out another piece of paper and handed it to Draco. He looked at it, puzzled, and then handed it to Harry.
"It's from a record of Rowena Ravenclaw," Snape explained. "The book this was copied from says she always wore this as it was a gift. It disappeared from a collection in a mysterious house fire twenty years ago."
Harry took the paper and looked down at the drawing of a beautiful brooch. "Twenty years ago," he said slowly. "It would fit. That's around the time Voldemort was making his later Horcruxes." He paused, looking up at Snape now. "We found another and destroyed it. The locket and now Hufflepuff's cup is ours, too."
Snape's eyebrows rose. Acknowledging Harry for the first time since they arrived, he asked, "Where was it?"
"The basement of the church next to his mother's grave," said Harry.
Snape didn't smile, but the look he gave Draco and even, grudgingly, Harry, seemed pleased. "And how did you destroy it?"
Harry winced and closed his eyes for a second. "Draco did," he said quietly. "He had to drink Voldemort's blood from the cup to destroy it."
Snape's head snapped back to Draco so suddenly it looked like he had been slapped. "You what?!" He was shaking now and looking paler than usual.
Aberforth's eyes grew large and he looked slightly alarmed.
Draco winced. "It has been ... purged ... from my body," he said quietly.
Harry winced again. "Draco is the only one of us who can destroy the soul pieces. Because of our binding promise I can ... push ... Voldemort back out of him."
Aberforth was still looking wide-eyed. "Couldn't that kill him? It's what was killing Albus - destroying a Horcrux."
"The binding promise saved him," Harry said quietly. "I can push Voldemort back out of him," he repeated.
Snape put his face in his hands. "You are using him to destroy them," he whispered.
"Severus," Draco said, reaching his hand out, laying it on the table in front of his Godfather. "I want this," he continued, "it's better than what He had planned for me."
Harry couldn't help but go defensive at Snape's words. "I am not using him to destroy them," he said. "If you think for one second that I want him to do it, you're mad. I've begged him to let me do it, but he insists."
Snape scowled, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Harry. But before he could say anything, Draco reached further and took one of his hands. The man was startled and looked up into those grey eyes.
"I have my part to play in this," Draco said. "Just as you do."
Snape closed his eyes and sighed, nodding. He squeezed Draco's hand quickly, but then pulled away. "You should be going now," he said abruptly.
Harry was still staring at Snape with a frown on his face and he raised an eyebrow and then looked to Draco.
Draco shrugged and got up. This time he held his hand out to his Godfather, who frowned but took it anyway. Then Apparated them from the room.
Harry sighed and got to his feet, waiting for Aberforth.
Aberforth got to his feet as well, grasping Harry's arm. "Two Horcruxes in such a short time is near miraculous," he said.
Harry nodded. "I didn't expect to find them so soon," he said.
"Nor did I expect you to. People have high expectations of you, but I also think you are greatly underestimated."
Harry didn't quite know what to say to that.
"I've never felt more sure that we will win this war," said Aberforth seriously and then he Apparated them outside the rock.
Draco smiled when Harry appeared and stepped to his side, taking his hand and Apparating them back to the Manor.
Harry took a few seconds to gain his balance after an Apparation from such a distance but then turned to Draco with raised eyebrows. "That went considerably better than I would have expected," he said. "No shouting at all and information about a possible Horcrux."
Draco smiled, leaning in and kissing Harry. "Let's tell the others," he said, and then looking seriously at Harry. "And I suppose you have some questions of your own."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, but let's tell Ron and Hermione first," he said, walking from the entrance hall to go and find his friends.
Draco followed Harry into room where Hermione and Ron were waiting. He felt oddly subdued now and found himself thinking through the conversation with his Godfather.
"How did it go?" asked Hermione upon setting eyes on Harry and Draco.
"All right actually," said Harry, walking forward and pulling the parchment that Snape had given them from his pocket. "We got more information about a possible Horcrux. Snape said that it went missing from a private collection twenty years ago."
Hermione took the parchment and Ron looked at it over her shoulder.
Draco walked over to the window, looking out at the grounds. How long had it been since he had just walked outdoors?
"Ravenclaw's?" asked Hermione, looking up at Harry.
Harry nodded.
"Twenty years ago. Sounds right to me," she said.
Harry nodded again.
"Well, we need to find out the location now," said Ron. "If that's it."
"I'd say it probably is and yeah, I know," said Harry. "I still want to go to Godric's Hollow. I actually planned on going much sooner, but, with everything that's happened, I haven't been able. I don't know what I could find there, if anything at all, but I do want to go."
Draco glanced over his shoulder. "Do we all go?" he asked.
Harry looked up at him. "I suppose," he said.
"We're with you, Harry," said Ron. "Wherever you go, we follow."
Harry gave him a small smile.
Draco nodded, his gaze returning to the gardens. "Can it wait until after this weekend?" he asked.
"Sure. There's not a time limit," said Harry, walking over to Draco and leaning against the wall beside the window. "But why this weekend?"
Draco smirked, looking back at Ron. "We have a Quidditch game this weekend and I haven't been on a broom since before ..." he looked down at the construct hand, "before we left Hogwarts."
"Ah, right," said Harry, smiling.
"I owled Fred and George and told them to tell Bill and Charlie," said Ron, grinning.
Harry nodded. "Great," he said. "If Bill comes, Fleur will probably come too, and that means we'll probably have to set up when to go to Diagon Alley, so we'll probably have to wait even longer to go to Godric's Hollow."
"We can go after," said Hermione, folding up the parchment she was still holding and tucking it into her pocket.
"Yeah," said Harry. "No rush or anything and we can try to look up some things about that brooch. It might give us some ideas about where to look."
Draco nodded, his expression still far-away. Two days to practise before everyone showed up. He made a fist and relaxed the construct, wondering at whether or not he could still play.
Harry glanced at Draco's face and then at his construct hand. He frowned slightly, looking away. He suddenly remembered what Draco had said about the arm being heavy. He imagined that might be sort of hard to handle on a broomstick. "You want to take that walk?" he asked, looking up again.
Draco looked up a bit startled. "Sure," he answered, smiling at Harry.
Harry smiled, too. "We're going outside for a bit, guys," he said.
"Okay," said Hermione absently as she turned back to her book.
Ron looked at her as if to ask, Why are you so boring? "I guess I'll go polish my broom," he said. "We should go out for a fly later."
"Maybe," said Harry, holding out his hand for Draco to take.
Draco smirked at Ron's comment, but let the chance to tease him pass. He put his hand in Harry's and allowed himself to be led out.
Harry led Draco to the front doors of the Manor, realising that after half a month here, he still hadn't technically been outside the place. "Lead the way to wherever it is you want to go out here," he said once they were outside. He turned his head to look around and take in his surroundings.
Draco realised they had gone out the front door and looked around. He rarely used the front door, usually preferring the rose gardens in back and travelling by Apparation. He shrugged and followed the walkway around the manor. "This was a moat in past generations," he said absently, looking at the stone path.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Wow," he said, nodding. They walked along in silence for a bit. "So, Snape," he said.
Draco should not have been caught off guard by the change in topic, but he was. He had been ruminating on the changes in architecture of British homes. Truly. But here Harry was, asking him about his Godfather, and the blond's steps faltered. He took a breath. "Yes, Snape," he said.
Harry raised an eyebrow at Draco's reaction, but he didn't say anything about it. "Um, well, he acted a bit ... different this time," he said.
Draco's response was somewhere between a laugh and a grimace. "Yes, he did," he said. Draco didn't know why he just didn't explain it to Harry instead of waiting for the other man to ask, but that was what he wanted, the asking.
Harry frowned slightly. "Well, why did he act that way?" he asked slowly, turning his head to look at Draco.
Draco shook his head. Subtle was not Harry Potter. They were on the east side of the Manor and he led Harry over to a bench and gestured for him to sit. He didn't know how to explain this without another of his lectures on Wizarding culture. He considered how to get this across to the Muggle-raised Potter. "You know, one would assume that all Muggles accepted a marriage between two men if one went by your reactions," he began.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Well, they don't," he said. "You saw how my relatives acted."
"Yes," Draco grimaced, "I did. And you have seen a number of different reactions toward our relationship from Wizards. Did you realise that not one member of my house said anything about the fact that my sexual partner was male? Only that it was you?"
Harry shrugged. "I didn't pay that much attention, but now that you mention it, yes," he said.
Draco shook his head again, always disturbed by the nuances that Harry missed. "This is where blood and class differences become important again," he said. "I know you hate this stuff but it really does matter."
Harry sighed, but nodded. "Well, what is it?" he asked.
"You are probably somewhat aware that among pure-bloods of my station, marrying and having children with another pure-blood is considered ... essential." He paused, waiting for Harry's reaction before continuing.
Harry frowned and stared at his hands, having not thought about that at all. "Well ... I'm not a pure-blood, or a woman," he said quietly.
"No, you are not," Draco said, "and that means that my family would never approve of a marriage contract with you on either count. Even if you weren't ... well, who you are. Our marriages are arranged and approved by our parents."
"I think that's ridiculous," said Harry. "But you probably could have guessed that. I would never marry for anything but love." He paused. "Do you think your mother would disapprove?"
"Yes," Draco said without hesitation, "for the reasons I gave. But that's what is so complicated about reactions. Because marriages are arranged contracts between families, it means that love is not expected to be part of it. Nor are we expected to go without love or sex with someone we desire. Affairs are accepted practise."
Harry's frown deepened. "I wouldn't like having a marriage like that at all," he said. "I wouldn't feel ... married."
"So I gathered." Draco smirked, shaking his head. "You bound me monogamously before we were even married."
"Well, that was an accident, but I meant what I said," Harry said with a shifty look at Draco. "You wouldn't want to be with anyone else ... would you?"
"The point I am trying to make, is that affairs with men or women are not uncommon and don't have the kind of moral stigma among my class that they do among those classes who usually marry for love." Draco sighed. "But the initial binding made me ineligible for marriage. By their view, you took something from my family. You took away the marriage contract rights of the only heir to the Malfoy estate."
Harry already knew that he had taken Draco's rights. "Well, all right, but what does any of this have to do with Snape? I mean, I understand what it would have to do with your mum, but ... what exactly are you trying to tell me?"
Draco sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. What was he trying to tell Harry? It was like speaking a language Harry didn’t even know - Draco often got lost in the translation. "It means that, as my Godfather, as the man who took a vow to look out for my interests, our binding put him in a very difficult position," Draco said, not able to completely keep the annoyance out of his voice now.
Harry made a face. "Well, I don't give a damn what he wants or anybody else. I'll marry you if I bloody well want to."
Draco groaned, sometimes just wanting to grab Harry and shake him. The next minute, wanting to throw him to the ground and shag him senseless. He turned his back instead, trying to remember what he was explaining. "You don't see it. The person who had the right to block a marriage of the heir is the head of the family, the Lord of the Manor. My father. But he is dead."
"So then you can do what you want," Harry said, wondering why Draco had turned away from him.
"Except that I can't, not really," Draco said. "The magics of this place have ... requirements." Draco was getting a headache trying to explain this to the other man.
Harry huffed. "Now I'm confused, Draco," he said. "Are you saying we can't get married now?"
Draco's laugh was the kind that spoke more of confusion than amusement. He started pacing again. "That's just it. The blood magic in the Manor has already accepted us as married. We are joined more completely than the legal ceremony could ever do. Severus' attitude changed when he heard that."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Okay ..." he said slowly. "So that's good then ... right? And what are the 'requirements' that the Manor has?" He still sounded a bit confused.
Draco winced, coming full circle here and not feeling like he was getting anywhere. "It means that until now, the Manor has never accepted a union that didn't include a pure-blood wizard and witch who were both capable of producing an heir. It has always been assumed that the magics in this place would insure the continuation of the Malfoy bloodline. I think that is part of what my father counted on."
"So ... it accepted us when it shouldn't have?" Harry asked slowly.
"Or the magics in this place have provisions we didn't know about? Or know something we don't? Or ..." Draco huffed, "or I am just guessing here. But I think my Godfather was pleased with it, whatever it is."
"Er, okay, I guess," said Harry, eyebrows still raised.
"So that didn't make much sense to you did it?" Draco asked, feeling rather put out by his inability to communicate with Harry.
"Well ... it made sense ... but, I just ... don't really understand the point. I mean, unless there's something we need to do about it ..." He frowned slightly at Draco.
Draco took a deep breath and sat down on the bench next to Harry, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He loved Harry, but moments like this made him feel alone. "I love you," he said quietly, "I guess that is all that matters for now. I will let you know if I figure the rest out."
Harry sighed. Now he felt like he had done something wrong. "Okay," he said quietly.
"And, yes, I think he will attend the ceremony," Draco said, smiling a bit.
Harry sighed again. "Well ... that's good," he said for Draco's benefit. "You know, I hadn't thought of it before, but if he comes, I think there'll need to be some sort of explanation for everyone else. There is no way they're all just going to buy, 'Well he's Draco's Godfather, so there'."
"He would probably be in some sort of disguise," Draco said. "I doubt he would risk exposure at this point."
"Yeah," said Harry. "That would probably be better."
"Shall I show you the roses?" Draco smiled, taking Harry's hand again.
Harry smiled, too. "Sure," he said, getting to his feet again.