Devil's Snare

Title: Devil's Snare

Rating: R

Word Count: 1013

019: Birthday

Paring: Harry/Draco

Summary: Harry is told to bring Draco to the light side of the war at any cost. Post-HBP, D/s, dubious consent, Post-Hogwarts, war!fic.

Disclaimer: Unoriginal characters and situations belong to JKRowling. No copyright infringement is intended.

Table of Contents found at http://www.livejournal.com/users/mahoganyhandle/9713.html

~

When, weeks later, Harry Floo called Malfoy to see if they could meet up for lunch, Malfoy told him that he had a prior engagement. Harry accepted that answer, but when Moody found out he didn't approve. So Harry called back and, under duress, Malfoy reluctantly admitted that Bella would return home the next day, for her birthday. It had been three weeks since Zabini had been killed and Malfoy had shipped Bella to live with Pansy Parkinson, and Malfoy planned to spend the day with his daughter.

Moody didn't seem to think that was an important enough reason for Malfoy to neglect his "duty," but Harry had more than a few choice words for him, and the protest ceased. Besides, Harry hadn't seen Bella in weeks, either, and he didn't think Malfoy would mind if he stopped by with a present. It isn't every day a girl turns five, after all.

Harry headed to Diagon Alley that afternoon, dragging Hermione and Ginny along with him. He wasn't certain if there was anything that Bella wanted, but he figured that Malfoy would have gotten all of that and more besides. At first it had been unnerving to see Malfoy catering to someone else's every whim, but as time passed, witnessing their loving relationship became endearing. It grounded Harry. It reminded him that Malfoy was human, after all.

Harry had spent a small fortune on books, toys, and dolls before he found the perfect gift: a crystal fairy statue encased in a golden orb that was charmed to open at touch. The fairy statue then became animated and flew from her post, singing and dancing.

"Think you've spent enough?" Ginny asked as Harry had the gifts wrapped in glittery pink paper with unicorns prancing across it. "She's only Malfoy's daughter, you know. And you weren't so enthusiastic when Bill and Fleur had Adelaide."

Harry tried his best to avoid that conversation, but Ginny was adamant and suspicious and talked his ear off for hours afterwards. He was happy when she finally went home, and even happier when the next day dawned.

He Flooed to Malfoy Manor around one o'clock, and Bethany, who seldom showed emotion, looked positively baffled to see him there.

"Master Malfoy isn't expecting you," she said cautiously as Harry lugged his pile of gifts through.

"Oh, I know," he said. "He probably wants to be alone with Bella. I just wanted to stop by for a little bit and drop these off. Where are they?"

Bethany's eyes crossed and she blushed, compulsively smoothing the fabric of her robes. "They… they are in the garden." Harry turned to go, but she latched onto his wrist. "Mr. Potter…. Allow me to announce your presence."

"That's not necessary," Harry replied. He levitated Bella's gifts and headed out of the room, conscious of the weight of Bethany's gaze on his back. As he approached the garden, the sound of laughter drifted in to him. And there was Bella's sweet voice, narrating her adventures while staying with Pansy.

Despite her preoccupation, she was the first one to notice him, calling out his name as she broke from Pansy's grasp and raced to his side. Harry swept her into his arms and gave her a kiss.

"Happy Birthday, Princess."

"I'm five today!" she blithely replied.

"I know… I brought you something."

Spying the load of gifts trailing after him, she giggled. "Some somethings! Thank you! Are you staying for my party?"

"If you want," Harry said at the same time Malfoy interjected, "No."

"Which is it?" Bella demanded, going red in the face as Harry and Malfoy merely stared at one another. "He said he'd stay if I wanted, and it's my birthday, and my party, and I want him to stay!"

"Of course he's going to stay," Pansy demurred, rising. Harry looked her at for the first time and hesitated. She looked good, though no more attractive than she'd been in school. Her carriage, however, had improved, and she reminded Harry of the glimpses he'd seen of Narcissa Malfoy, elegant and aloof, in his younger years. And, to Harry's surprise, she was pregnant. As far as Harry remembered, Pansy had been firmly attached to Malfoy and refused to move beyond. Yet, as far as Harry could tell, Malfoy was gay, and Pansy was now married and soon to be a mother. The Slytherins had changed more than Harry anticipated.

"Pansy," Malfoy began, but silenced himself when she gave him a withering glare.

"I'll inform the cook and staff," Pansy said. "Come, Bella. While we're in the kitchen we can see if there are any spare sweets." Bella eagerly joined her, leaving Malfoy and Harry alone.

"I didn't think she'd still be here," Harry said.

"That's because you're self-involved. You don't think before you act. You assume that I want you in my life as much as you want me in yours."

"I don't—"

"I don't care for your half-assed excuses, Potter," Malfoy snapped. "But the next time you decide to barge in on me and act like I've made you a part of my family, remember that I hate you. Remember that you don't belong here."

Reeling, Harry took a step back, averting his eyes to look anywhere but at Malfoy. Harry had gotten attached to Malfoy and Bella after nearly three months involvement in their lives. He thought that Malfoy might have softened to him, seeing how warmly Bella welcomed his company, but that thought obviously was a delusion.

"I'll go," he said, wanting to get out of there as swiftly as possible.

"What, and break your promise to my daughter? I think not," Malfoy sneered. "Give me your heart, Potter, and I will break it. That is my only warning for you."

"It won't happen again."

"Good."

Bella and Pansy soon returned. In giving all of his attention to Bella, Harry could almost forget about Malfoy's harsh words. But throughout the day, and into the evening as the party progressed, when Harry looked at Malfoy he noticed a shapeless shadow lingering around him.