Saving the World is Really Annoying

Please see first chapter for disclaimer. Review response follows chapter.







Chapter One





The Malfoys were already seated when Harry was led into the dining room. He nodded in greeting and, ignoring the obvious seat between Draco and Lucius, sat near the middle on the large table several seats away from the seated family. The Malfoy men sneered at him as Narcissa attempted to be the good hostess. “Good evening Harry. I hope everything is to your satisfaction.”



“Narcissa, your home is lovely. Everything is perfect and I am quite looking forward to exploring the gardens that I can see from my room. Thank you for your hospitality.” He graced the witch with a brilliant smile that made the aristocratic pure blood blush delicately.



“Those gardens are Narcissa’s largest contribution to the manor. They are quite beautiful this time of year.” Lucius smiled fondly at his wife before turning back to his new son in law. “Perhaps you could persuade her to take you on a tour in the morning. If you would like, I can take you to see the stables and introduce you to the grounds afterwards.”



“Thank you, Lucius. I would enjoy that.” He smiled before turning back to the Lady of the manor. “Narcissa, if you can spare me some time in the morning, I would love for you to join me on a exploration of the gardens.”



“Of course, I would love to. Shall we plan on after breakfast and then you could meet up with Lucius at lunch?” Harry smiled and agreed as dinner was served by what seemed to be an army of house elves.



Draco was feeling very left out and angry. Why was his husband getting along so well with his parents. He wouldn’t say two words to him, but he had a whole day planned with death eaters that weren’t him. Seething he tried to think of something to say to bring the attention back to where it belonged. “Did those muggle relatives of yours teach to ride a horse? I could accompany you and father and show you the proper way to ride.” Draco’s arrogance and derision was obvious as he spat the word muggle.



“If you like, but do not feel obligated. I am sure that it would be a wasted effort on your part, as I am quite sure that I will not learn to ride properly any time soon.” Harry’s tone was polite but cold enough to make Draco shiver slightly.



Harry, Narcissa, and Lucius continued to chat throughout dinner and Draco threw in caustic comments periodically that were mostly ignored. After they finished the custard that was presented as dessert, Lucius asked to speak to Draco in the study. Harry waited until they were out of the room before approaching Narcissa. “Dinner was delicious. Thank you.”



“You are welcome. I hope that you can be happy here.”



“I am certainly going to try. I am grateful that you and Lucius seem willing to let our past difficulties go. I would like for you to know that I, too, am willing to start again. It might not always be easy, but I will do my best.” He brought her delicate hand to his lips and smiled at her. “I look forward to our adventure in the morning. Good night, My lady.”



Slightly stunned, Narcissa managed to wish the young man a good night before he slipped away. She sat at the table deep in thought until she was rejoined by her husband thirty minutes later.







Draco was furious as he left the study. His father had just admonished him for his behavior, telling him that he was being childish and rude. Nothing made any sense. He was the one that was raised in high society, he was the one with manners, he was the one that was a pure blood. How could his parents side with that half blood against him. The golden boy had them fooled. He wasn’t this charming person that they thought he was. He was hot blooded, angry, spiteful, and he was supposed to be Draco’s not his parents. He managed not to kick Harry’s door as he passed, but it was a close call. He calmed himself with his ongoing mantra. He had all the time in the world.



His father was right in one way. He needed to stop looking at Harry like he was still the boy that he went to school with. The man that was now living with them had been through a war and lost many people that he cared about. He had killed the darkest wizard of this age, and had done so without showing any weakness even as he had been hit with multiple dark curses. He would stop being childish and win him over with kindness and the Malfoy charm. By the time he was ready for sleep he was resolved on his new approach to the situation.



After a pleasant morning meal, Narcissa lead Harry out to view the gardens. They took their time wandering around looking at all the different plants and discussing the arrangement. Harry knew a great deal about gardening from his years of servitude to the Dursleys and later his own interest in the subject. Narcissa was thrilled to finally have someone who shared her greatest pleasure and they discussed expanding the gardens and adding a gazebo so that they could enjoy them more in the spring and summer. It was with regret, that Narcissa mentioned that they should return to the house for lunch.



Lucius, Harry, and Draco headed out to the stable after lunch. Harry fell in love with the horses immediately. He was introduced to the staff and enjoyed an energetic discussion on the care and breeding of champions with Jason, the lead stable hand. Lucius offered Harry the opportunity to ride and after giving it some thought, he agreed with the warning that he had little experience to draw on. Harry didn’t think that his wild ride on a Thestral would qualify him as a horseman.



He was offered a fairly sedate mare named lilac to start with. Draco was full of advice as Harry mounted and adjusted his seat on the saddle. Harry ignored him entirely as he rubbed Lilacs neck speaking softly to her. When he felt that they had been properly introduced he mimicked Lucius’ actions and led her in a gentle trot. Harry ginned happily at Lucius. It was like flying and he quickly encouraged her into a full run laughing out loud and throwing his head back to enjoy the wind.



Lucius and Draco pulled up to watch. He had no real form, but his wild style was intoxicating to Draco. “He is going to get himself killed.”



Nodding his head, Lucius had to agree. “Yes probably, but look at him ride. I have never seen anything like it. It is like he is part of the horse, it looks like he had total control and yet none. I can’t explain it, but it is something I won’t soon forget.” The look on his face was a testament to his awe. By the time Harry came to a stop still laughing and wind blown, both Malfoys were speechless at his display.



“Merlin! That was wonderful. I hope you will allow me to ride again.”



“Anytime, Harry. The stables will always be available to you. Just ask one of the hands to prepare the horse until you are comfortable with the process.” Harry threw a blinding smile at Lucius and trotted back to the stable to ask Jason to show him how to care for Lilac after a ride.



Once the horses were settled the three returned to the house to meet with a smiling Narcissa. She took in the odd look on her husband and sons faces and raised a brow in question. “Did you have a ride, Harry?”



Harry’s face lit up and he proceeded to tell her all about his ride on Lilac. She could tell that both of her men were dying to comment, but they were both holding it back. She couldn’t wait to get the full story on this one. It sounded like Harry enjoyed himself, so she wasn’t sure what could be causing such a stir.



“I have had a wonderful day. Thank you all for welcoming me to your home. I have a date with a friend this evening, so I won’t be joining you for dinner.”



“I wanted to spend some time with you tonight.” Draco petulantly spit out, forgetting the new image that he was trying to portray.



Harry grimaced and closed his eyes with a sigh. When he opened them his face was completely neutral. “My apologies, Draco. I will try to give you more notice in the future. I will be available tomorrow, if you would still like to spend some time together. I will be busy most of this weekend and I have engagements most Monday and Wednesday evenings. I have next week off, but after that I will be returning to work, so I will be gone every day until around five or six.” Harry smiled at all three Malfoys and left to get ready for his evening.



Ignoring Draco’s outburst and the ensuing conversation, Narcissa turned to her husband. “What had you so flustered when you came back from the stables?”



Lucius spoke animatedly for several moments about the way the young man had taken to the horses. “He admitted to no experience, but it took him only a couple of minutes to take Lilac into a full run. He didn’t even use the reigns, yet she responded perfectly to him. He must have been guiding her with his body. He doesn’t sit right by any proper standards, but it was bloody fantastic to watch. He is an amazing young man!”



Seeing how excited the usually restrained man was, Narcissa could only agree. If she was being honest with herself she had to acknowledge that she was totally taken with him as well. She was brought out of her thoughts by her sons gasp. Following his eyes, she had to restrain her own urge to vocalize her surprise.



Draco had always found the wonder boy attractive, but this vision was enough to make his legs go weak. He was dressed in tight black jeans that hug precariously low on his hips showing off his muscular thighs and a large bulge in the crotch. Draco couldn’t help but wonder how large he was when he was aroused. His emerald silk shirt fell short of his waist band revealing a tantalizing strip of golden brown skin, and brought out the color of his incredible eyes that were free of glasses. Draco couldn’t breath. Ironically it was probably a good thing that he couldn’t catch his breath long enough to speak because he would have said something totally inappropriate and jealous. He watched silently as his husband waved goodbye and walked out the door. Glancing at his parents, he could see that they were both as shocked as he was.



“must be some date.” Lucius muttered.





A/N Thank you so much for the reviews. A couple of general notes, I make no apologies for the lack of originally in the premise. I just wanted to play with the idea a little bit. I would give credit to the originator, but I have read several stories with a similar idea. I am not really particularly tech savvy so I don’t know how to generate lists to update people when I post a new chapter, if you leave your e-mail in the review I will endeavor to let you know, but no promises. Thank you: Lady Lynn, J.S., vibora, stef, Amessis, Love GD, riddlestar, Star55, rAiNwAtEr, DM, vittani, fallangelsquill, natwest, Slashy Snitch.



Argo, I didn’t know the protocol for establishing dominance. I am also not sure that a top is always dominant, however, now I know what to look for. Thank you. I wish your e-mail had been visible because I agree with everything in your review. I am also tired of everyone thinking that Harry should be a submissive weak person. I see Harry as someone who has issues in his upbringing that makes him: fight for the underdog, seek justice, and avoid being someone’s toy. I love that you took the time to share your view with me. I will not make Harry become something less than he is, and should be. I chose Bella, and Dolohov for a reason, be patient.



drippy123, I appreciate that you meant to be constructive, but frankly unless you are offering your services, it isn’t. I have with other stories asked for a beta, and received no response. I have gone to the beta listings and emailed people and received no response. I had a beta for one chapter of another story and they fixed two grammar problems and then never responded again. You have read my writing, obviously two corrections aren’t going to cut it. I did not, nor do I claim to be a great writer. I simply enjoy it. If you would like to send the specifics that require fixing, I would be more than happy to do so.