A Love So Belated
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
46,678
Reviews:
358
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
46,678
Reviews:
358
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
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.
Chapter 27: Someone Else
Chapter Number/Total: 27/44
Chapter Title: Someone Else
Words: 3241 Words
It truly had been Harry's best Christmas ever, despite what had happened with both Ginny and George, and despite him being in a very large mess. He was so in love it hurt, and Draco loved him as well. What more could he possibly need to make him happy? However, Harry had became nervous again - nervous about telling Ginny. But he had to. He didn't have to do it for George, or for Hermione, but he had to do it for her. Hermione was right. It wasn't fair to her, and Harry would deserve whatever he got.
He went over to the Burrow later that week. He was relieved to find that Mr. Weasley was at work and that Ron was spending the day off somewhere with Hermione. He had to tell Ginny that day, not only because he couldn't wait any longer, but because Hogwarts was reopening so that students could come back after the Christmas holidays. He literally didn't have much time left if he wanted to break up with her in person, and he knew that was the proper thing to do.
He was sitting at the kitchen table with her, watching Mrs. Weasley cook and listening to Ginny coo as she sat next to him and played with her Pygmy Puff, Arnold.
He sighed, knowing he shouldn't put it off any longer. "Ginny," he said quietly. "Can we go to your room or something? I need to tell you something."
She looked up at him, raising an eyebrow and smiling. "Okay," she said, glancing at her mother.
Mrs. Weasley didn't pay it any attention as Harry and Ginny stood from the table, Ginny gathering up Arnold.
Harry felt terrible as he climbed the stairs with her. Merlin, she thought he wanted to have sex. He knew it. They entered into her bedroom and he crossed to sit on her bed while she went to put Arnold back in his cage.
He sighed again, leaning over and placing his hands on the back of his neck. He felt the bed dip with her weight next to him, followed by her small hand on his back.
"Is something wrong, Harry?" she asked concernedly.
He looked up again, seeing that the smile had gone from both her face and her eyes. He took a deep breath. "Y - yeah," he said. "Ginny -" He looked away, rubbing his forehead.
"What is it?" she asked, her hand moving in circles on his back now. "You know you can tell me."
He didn't talk at all for a few moments. He couldn't think of how to begin. "I'm a complete arsehole," he said finally. "More than that. I should be stabbed in the eyes and have the knives twisted."
Ginny's frown grew. "What are you talking about?"
Harry took another deep breath, not wanting to look at her, but knowing he should. He turned his face back again. "I've been seeing someone else," he said quietly. And just like that, the words were out of his mouth after what had felt like forever.
Her frown changed from concerned to confused. "What?" she asked, her hand pausing on his back.
Harry winced. "I have. For over a month now," he whispered.
"S-seeing someone?" she echoed, her eyes growing wider as she took her hand away completely.
Harry nodded.
Ginny shook her head, her mouth hanging slightly open as her breathing turned a bit irregular. "Is that - So that's why you've been acting - That's why we haven't - Why you haven't..."
Harry's expression was pained as he nodded again.
Ginny looked dumbfounded, completely taken aback. "Who is it?" she asked when a minute had passed, staring at Harry with a look of - if anything but anger and hurt - the utmost disappointment.
Harry's heart began beating quickly, his mouth gone dry. He had no idea how she was going to take this, but he could guess that it wasn't going to be very good. "It's... Draco," he whispered very, very quietly.
She went completely still, staring at him. "What?" she repeated, her voice flat.
Harry winced again. "I had to tell you," he said. "It isn't fair for you to not know the whole truth."
She only stared at him, eyes wide and disbelieving.
Harry didn't know what to do except wait, so he sat there, frowning and feeling his body seem to clench up.
"You're seeing Draco Malfoy?" she asked finally, her breath quickening now. "As in dating him? Him?"
Harry looked away again. "Yeah," he said to his knees.
She went silent again, her mouth hanging open as she looked at Harry. "Are you lying to me?" she asked in a whisper.
"No," Harry whispered back.
"Oh, my God," she let out strangely, breathing heavily with the words. She stared up at the ceiling as her eyes began to gather tears. "You're dating Draco Malfoy? You're dating a man behind my back?" She let out an incredulous laugh, shaking her head again. It was a very terrible sound.
Harry didn't know if he was supposed to answer that.
"How, Harry?" she demanded, looking at him angrily as the tears spilled over. "How did this happen? What - I don't - I don't understand."
Harry glanced at her and felt his heart beat painfully. "I don't know," he admitted, trying to make his voice clearer. "We kissed and..."
She let out another incredulous laugh, tears falling freely. "I thought something was maybe going on, but him?" she babbled, her face and voice still animated with that strange pseudo-happiness. "Oh, my God." She wiped at her face furiously, looking up at the ceiling again.
Harry could hardly stand to watch. "I know," he said. "I'm sorry, Ginny."
"God," she moaned again.
"I am," Harry told her helplessly. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I really didn't. I wasn't even - I was never attracted to him before - or any man really. He just -"
"I don't want hear this," she cut him off. "I can't believe you! I thought you wouldn't be like that. I never thought - Oh, Harry, oh my-" But it sounded like her throat was closing up as she tried to keep herself from crying.
"I'm sorry, Ginny," he said again, covering his eyes. "I'm so sorry."
She couldn't seem to bring herself to look at him.
He waited there in silence, waiting to see if she would say anything to him.
"Is that it then?" she said finally, her voice strangled. "Do you expect me to just forget this? Think we should just keep going?"
Harry closed his eyes tight. "No," he said. "Ginny, I -"
She stared at him once again. "You what?"
Harry bit his lip tightly, picking at his fingernail and only noticing that it had started to bleed when he looked down. He took a breath before, "I love him," he whispered.
Ginny was white with shock now as her tears streaked her face. "You love him?" she said.
"Yes," Harry answered.
Her eyes filled with new tears. "And you don't love me." It wasn't a question.
Harry winced. "I do," he insisted. "Ginny, I do love you. I just..."
"Just not that way," she finished for him. "You lied to me, Harry."
"I'm sorry," Harry said, voice very pained. "If I could go back -" But he stopped, because to say that he regretted it would be a lie. He could not regret Draco. "If I could go back and do it differently, I would," he said instead. "I - It wasn't right to lie to you."
"No, it wasn't," she said angrily, tears still falling.
"I know," he said. "I'm not asking you to forgive me, I don't deserve it, I just wanted you to know. Because I do love you, no matter what. You're like my family, Ginny."
That only made her cry harder and she actually let out a sob, but then sucked in a deep breath. "I think you should go, Harry," she said shakily. "Now."
Harry winced one last time. "Okay," he whispered, getting up to stand on wobbly legs.
She didn't look at him again, bringing her own legs up to her chest. "Go," she said again through her teeth.
Harry let out a very quiet breath, moving to the door and feeling a small part of himself left behind with Ginny, even if he wasn't in love with her.
He stepped out of her room and made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen, heading for the backdoor. He found himself wondering if he would ever be welcomed happily back into this house again, and he was terrified.
"Not staying for dinner, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley asked as he pulled the door open.
He resisted the urge to close his eyes. "No, stuff to do," he said quietly.
"Oh, well, maybe next time," she said.
"Yeah," Harry said, just as softly, and he walked out into the backyard before Disapparating.
***
Draco had practically been living at Number Twelve, even if he hadn't technically moved in yet. He had spent most of the week following Christmas with Harry. He was, in truth, nervous about telling his mother, let alone his father, about his plans. So when Harry went to the Burrow, Draco went to the Manor and stood nervously in the doorway of the sitting room where his mother was reading.
She looked up, smiling, and set the book aside. "Well, you certainly haven't been here much lately," she said, looking happy to see him.
Draco walked in and sat down on the chair opposite her. "I have been at Harry's house."
"Yes, I thought so," she said, hiding any resentment that she might have had. "Another letter from your father arrived."
Draco winced.
She sighed. "He only wants the best for you. And he wishes you a happy Christmas, though I suppose it's a little late now."
Draco sighed too, looking down at his hands.
Narcissa frowned slightly, sitting back in her chair knowingly. "What is it?"
"I know he wants what is best for me. I know you both do. But I don't think I agree with Father as to what would be best," he said.
She stared at him for a moment. "What is it that you think is best then?" she asked, but by the tone of her voice, she already knew what Draco was going to say.
"I am in love with Harry," he said firmly. Then looked up to meet her eyes. "And he loves me."
She stared again, raising her eyebrows. "And you are certain of this?"
Draco played with the ring on his finger, twisting it. "Yes, he told me - at Christmas," he answered. "And he has asked me to move in with him."
Narcissa's eyebrows rose further. "What?" she asked, her mouth dropping uncharacteristically open.
Draco held up his hand, so the ring was more visible. "He wants me to live with him, as his lover," he said.
She looked at the ring. "And he gave you that, did he?"
"It was a Christmas present," Draco said. He hesitated. "And I gave him one as well."
She stared yet again, her mouth still open. "Well, what are you going to tell me next? You're getting married?"
"It if was legal to do so and he asked me, I would." Draco held his chin up, shaking, but defiant.
"Oh, Draco," she said with heavy sigh, letting her head rest delicately on her fingertips. "Has he even called it off with that Weasley girl yet?" she asked, obviously trying to cling to something.
"That is where he is now," Draco told her.
"And you're moving in with him?" She gazed at him with intent eyes, even though her posture wasn't tense.
Draco wasn't asking permission, he reminded himself. He was doing this. "Yes," he said as calmly and firmly as he could.
There was a pause before she began to speak, her voice serious. "You do know that your father is -" But she stopped, shaking her head, closing her eyes, and sighing again.
Draco got up and went to his knees beside her, his hand on one of hers. "I don't mean to upset you, Mother," he insisted, pleading now. "I love him, I really do."
Narcissa opened her eyes, looking shocked with Draco. "And you would marry him?" she said quietly when she had recovered. "No children, just up and marry Harry Potter? After just this short time being with him?"
Draco flushed. "I have known him for seven years," he said softly.
"I certainly never heard anything good about him in most of those seven years," Narcissa answered. "If anything, just the opposite."
Draco half smiled, shaking his head. "From Father, from other Death Eater families, from the Ministry?"
"From even you, Draco," she said, raising her eyebrows.
"If I had said anything good about the infamous Harry Potter, what would Father have done?" he asked.
She sighed. "Well, he simply would have disagreed," she said. "He's a half-blood, and he's practically one of those blood traitor Weasleys. And there's that Mudblood girl. You really want all that?" She seemed uncomprehending.
"Mother, you and I are blood traitors," he reminded, his voice gentle but firm as well.
She narrowed her eyes slightly. "I am a blood traitor? I gladly take the title. I did it to save my son's life, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. And yes, you will be considered one if you are to associate with the Weasley family and that Granger. Harry Potter is at least half, but is not too terribly popular among the higher families, as his people put most of them in prison. Having him as an acquaintance is not what they would question, but a lover is not something they will understand, and certainly not something your father will understand."
Draco was trembling as he got to his feet and drew himself up straight. "I am not a blood traitor just by association. I am one in my own right, through my own very deliberate efforts," he said in a firm voice.
"What are you talking about?" Narcissa asked, staring up at him.
Draco wasn't even sure why he was telling her this after he had gone to such lengths to keep if from his parents. "I worked against Voldemort for nearly a year before he fell."
Narcissa blinked a few times. "You what?" she drew her head back slightly as if to get Draco in better focus.
"I hated him," Draco said. "I hated what he did to us and what he was doing to our world."
Narcissa shook now. "Do you know what he would have done to you, Draco?" she asked, whispering as she looked at him. "He would have skinned you alive. Literally."
"Do you know what he actually did to me? What he let the Carrows and others do to me?" Draco's voice broke now. "I would sooner have died than live like that."
Tears welled in Narcissa's eyes as she brought a hand to her mouth. "Come here," she whispered in a tiny voice, holding her arms open.
Draco did break then, and he dropped to his knees to wrap his arms around his mother. "I was happy before he came back. I thought we were," he whispered. "Then he destroyed everything."
"I know, my baby, I know," she said, wrapping her arms about him in return. "I'll never forgive myself for allowing any of that into our home. The Dark Lord went too far, and Bellatrix, when she came back... there was nothing I could do. I couldn't take you and run." She was openly crying now and she tried to go on. "Your father was... when The Dark Lord came back that night... he was terrified. We didn't know what to do. Father had the Mark and He would've found us. We thought if we just listened, if we just handed Him the Galleons, He would leave us alone, but Father didn't get the prophecy from the Ministry and He was so angry." She rocked with Draco, holding him tightly against herself. "We couldn't disobey Him, Draco," she whispered. "He would have killed all of us. He would have killed you."
"Which is one of the many reasons he needed to die," Draco nearly growled. "I don't blame you, Mother, I don't. But I couldn't stand by and let him win. It's most of why I helped Harry and his friends," he said.
"You helped them?" she said, still holding him.
"Yes, I did, when I could," Draco admitted.
She closed her eyes and held him tighter. "I'm glad Potter won," she whispered. "I never wanted anything like what the Dark Lord was doing, not as far as he took it. Your father didn't either. He lied to all of us and went mad trying to kill Potter. But Potter does stand for a lot of things your father looks down upon. Associating with Mudbloods, werewolf laws, goblin rights - it's preposterous. But I cannot stop you, and neither can he, no matter what we think."
"I want to marry for love, not breeding or status," Draco whispered back. "I know Father will be angry. I just can't stand the idea of marrying some witch I don't have feelings for just to make a child. That can't be all I am good for."
"No, of course it isn't," she said. "We wanted you to find someone to love, but if you have already found it, what can we do but scream and shout?"
Draco pulled back, looking sadly in his mother's eyes. "I want to make you proud, both of you," he said. "But I never thought he would love me back. All that time and he always hated me."
She sighed quietly, wiping her eyes. "You deserve to be happy," she said. "And we are proud of you. You're our son, and you've obviously helped win the war, even if we were fighting on the opposite side - no matter the reasons."
"Really?" Draco asked, voice sounding much younger then.
"Of course, Draco," she said, kissing his forehead. "Your father will be very, very angry. But he loves you."
"Thank you, Mother," Draco said softly. "Then you won't be angry when I move in with him?"
She sighed one last time. "Well, I'm not leaping for joy," she said with a small smile, "but no. I won't be angry."
Draco smiled. "And you will come to dinner?" he asked, smirking.
She raised her eyebrows. "Let's not push, hm?" she said lightly, kissing his cheek. "I'll think about it," she said though, when she had pulled back. "It is the Black house."
"Yes, it is," Draco nodded. "And we have a house-elf."
She let out an amused-sounding breath. "Yes, I know."
"So if you won't come there, do you want to have him come to dinner here?" Draco asked, still pushing.
"What? Am I supposed to absolutely fall in love with him now?" she asked, though she was still smiling slightly.
"Of course," Draco answered smugly.
She rolled her eyes. "You know he can come here whenever he likes," she said. "He's certainly been here enough already."
"Good," Draco answered, and kissed her on the cheek. "We'll be over Sunday."
She sighed, though teasingly. "I'll be waiting with bated breath."
Chapter Title: Someone Else
Words: 3241 Words
It truly had been Harry's best Christmas ever, despite what had happened with both Ginny and George, and despite him being in a very large mess. He was so in love it hurt, and Draco loved him as well. What more could he possibly need to make him happy? However, Harry had became nervous again - nervous about telling Ginny. But he had to. He didn't have to do it for George, or for Hermione, but he had to do it for her. Hermione was right. It wasn't fair to her, and Harry would deserve whatever he got.
He went over to the Burrow later that week. He was relieved to find that Mr. Weasley was at work and that Ron was spending the day off somewhere with Hermione. He had to tell Ginny that day, not only because he couldn't wait any longer, but because Hogwarts was reopening so that students could come back after the Christmas holidays. He literally didn't have much time left if he wanted to break up with her in person, and he knew that was the proper thing to do.
He was sitting at the kitchen table with her, watching Mrs. Weasley cook and listening to Ginny coo as she sat next to him and played with her Pygmy Puff, Arnold.
He sighed, knowing he shouldn't put it off any longer. "Ginny," he said quietly. "Can we go to your room or something? I need to tell you something."
She looked up at him, raising an eyebrow and smiling. "Okay," she said, glancing at her mother.
Mrs. Weasley didn't pay it any attention as Harry and Ginny stood from the table, Ginny gathering up Arnold.
Harry felt terrible as he climbed the stairs with her. Merlin, she thought he wanted to have sex. He knew it. They entered into her bedroom and he crossed to sit on her bed while she went to put Arnold back in his cage.
He sighed again, leaning over and placing his hands on the back of his neck. He felt the bed dip with her weight next to him, followed by her small hand on his back.
"Is something wrong, Harry?" she asked concernedly.
He looked up again, seeing that the smile had gone from both her face and her eyes. He took a deep breath. "Y - yeah," he said. "Ginny -" He looked away, rubbing his forehead.
"What is it?" she asked, her hand moving in circles on his back now. "You know you can tell me."
He didn't talk at all for a few moments. He couldn't think of how to begin. "I'm a complete arsehole," he said finally. "More than that. I should be stabbed in the eyes and have the knives twisted."
Ginny's frown grew. "What are you talking about?"
Harry took another deep breath, not wanting to look at her, but knowing he should. He turned his face back again. "I've been seeing someone else," he said quietly. And just like that, the words were out of his mouth after what had felt like forever.
Her frown changed from concerned to confused. "What?" she asked, her hand pausing on his back.
Harry winced. "I have. For over a month now," he whispered.
"S-seeing someone?" she echoed, her eyes growing wider as she took her hand away completely.
Harry nodded.
Ginny shook her head, her mouth hanging slightly open as her breathing turned a bit irregular. "Is that - So that's why you've been acting - That's why we haven't - Why you haven't..."
Harry's expression was pained as he nodded again.
Ginny looked dumbfounded, completely taken aback. "Who is it?" she asked when a minute had passed, staring at Harry with a look of - if anything but anger and hurt - the utmost disappointment.
Harry's heart began beating quickly, his mouth gone dry. He had no idea how she was going to take this, but he could guess that it wasn't going to be very good. "It's... Draco," he whispered very, very quietly.
She went completely still, staring at him. "What?" she repeated, her voice flat.
Harry winced again. "I had to tell you," he said. "It isn't fair for you to not know the whole truth."
She only stared at him, eyes wide and disbelieving.
Harry didn't know what to do except wait, so he sat there, frowning and feeling his body seem to clench up.
"You're seeing Draco Malfoy?" she asked finally, her breath quickening now. "As in dating him? Him?"
Harry looked away again. "Yeah," he said to his knees.
She went silent again, her mouth hanging open as she looked at Harry. "Are you lying to me?" she asked in a whisper.
"No," Harry whispered back.
"Oh, my God," she let out strangely, breathing heavily with the words. She stared up at the ceiling as her eyes began to gather tears. "You're dating Draco Malfoy? You're dating a man behind my back?" She let out an incredulous laugh, shaking her head again. It was a very terrible sound.
Harry didn't know if he was supposed to answer that.
"How, Harry?" she demanded, looking at him angrily as the tears spilled over. "How did this happen? What - I don't - I don't understand."
Harry glanced at her and felt his heart beat painfully. "I don't know," he admitted, trying to make his voice clearer. "We kissed and..."
She let out another incredulous laugh, tears falling freely. "I thought something was maybe going on, but him?" she babbled, her face and voice still animated with that strange pseudo-happiness. "Oh, my God." She wiped at her face furiously, looking up at the ceiling again.
Harry could hardly stand to watch. "I know," he said. "I'm sorry, Ginny."
"God," she moaned again.
"I am," Harry told her helplessly. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I really didn't. I wasn't even - I was never attracted to him before - or any man really. He just -"
"I don't want hear this," she cut him off. "I can't believe you! I thought you wouldn't be like that. I never thought - Oh, Harry, oh my-" But it sounded like her throat was closing up as she tried to keep herself from crying.
"I'm sorry, Ginny," he said again, covering his eyes. "I'm so sorry."
She couldn't seem to bring herself to look at him.
He waited there in silence, waiting to see if she would say anything to him.
"Is that it then?" she said finally, her voice strangled. "Do you expect me to just forget this? Think we should just keep going?"
Harry closed his eyes tight. "No," he said. "Ginny, I -"
She stared at him once again. "You what?"
Harry bit his lip tightly, picking at his fingernail and only noticing that it had started to bleed when he looked down. He took a breath before, "I love him," he whispered.
Ginny was white with shock now as her tears streaked her face. "You love him?" she said.
"Yes," Harry answered.
Her eyes filled with new tears. "And you don't love me." It wasn't a question.
Harry winced. "I do," he insisted. "Ginny, I do love you. I just..."
"Just not that way," she finished for him. "You lied to me, Harry."
"I'm sorry," Harry said, voice very pained. "If I could go back -" But he stopped, because to say that he regretted it would be a lie. He could not regret Draco. "If I could go back and do it differently, I would," he said instead. "I - It wasn't right to lie to you."
"No, it wasn't," she said angrily, tears still falling.
"I know," he said. "I'm not asking you to forgive me, I don't deserve it, I just wanted you to know. Because I do love you, no matter what. You're like my family, Ginny."
That only made her cry harder and she actually let out a sob, but then sucked in a deep breath. "I think you should go, Harry," she said shakily. "Now."
Harry winced one last time. "Okay," he whispered, getting up to stand on wobbly legs.
She didn't look at him again, bringing her own legs up to her chest. "Go," she said again through her teeth.
Harry let out a very quiet breath, moving to the door and feeling a small part of himself left behind with Ginny, even if he wasn't in love with her.
He stepped out of her room and made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen, heading for the backdoor. He found himself wondering if he would ever be welcomed happily back into this house again, and he was terrified.
"Not staying for dinner, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley asked as he pulled the door open.
He resisted the urge to close his eyes. "No, stuff to do," he said quietly.
"Oh, well, maybe next time," she said.
"Yeah," Harry said, just as softly, and he walked out into the backyard before Disapparating.
***
Draco had practically been living at Number Twelve, even if he hadn't technically moved in yet. He had spent most of the week following Christmas with Harry. He was, in truth, nervous about telling his mother, let alone his father, about his plans. So when Harry went to the Burrow, Draco went to the Manor and stood nervously in the doorway of the sitting room where his mother was reading.
She looked up, smiling, and set the book aside. "Well, you certainly haven't been here much lately," she said, looking happy to see him.
Draco walked in and sat down on the chair opposite her. "I have been at Harry's house."
"Yes, I thought so," she said, hiding any resentment that she might have had. "Another letter from your father arrived."
Draco winced.
She sighed. "He only wants the best for you. And he wishes you a happy Christmas, though I suppose it's a little late now."
Draco sighed too, looking down at his hands.
Narcissa frowned slightly, sitting back in her chair knowingly. "What is it?"
"I know he wants what is best for me. I know you both do. But I don't think I agree with Father as to what would be best," he said.
She stared at him for a moment. "What is it that you think is best then?" she asked, but by the tone of her voice, she already knew what Draco was going to say.
"I am in love with Harry," he said firmly. Then looked up to meet her eyes. "And he loves me."
She stared again, raising her eyebrows. "And you are certain of this?"
Draco played with the ring on his finger, twisting it. "Yes, he told me - at Christmas," he answered. "And he has asked me to move in with him."
Narcissa's eyebrows rose further. "What?" she asked, her mouth dropping uncharacteristically open.
Draco held up his hand, so the ring was more visible. "He wants me to live with him, as his lover," he said.
She looked at the ring. "And he gave you that, did he?"
"It was a Christmas present," Draco said. He hesitated. "And I gave him one as well."
She stared yet again, her mouth still open. "Well, what are you going to tell me next? You're getting married?"
"It if was legal to do so and he asked me, I would." Draco held his chin up, shaking, but defiant.
"Oh, Draco," she said with heavy sigh, letting her head rest delicately on her fingertips. "Has he even called it off with that Weasley girl yet?" she asked, obviously trying to cling to something.
"That is where he is now," Draco told her.
"And you're moving in with him?" She gazed at him with intent eyes, even though her posture wasn't tense.
Draco wasn't asking permission, he reminded himself. He was doing this. "Yes," he said as calmly and firmly as he could.
There was a pause before she began to speak, her voice serious. "You do know that your father is -" But she stopped, shaking her head, closing her eyes, and sighing again.
Draco got up and went to his knees beside her, his hand on one of hers. "I don't mean to upset you, Mother," he insisted, pleading now. "I love him, I really do."
Narcissa opened her eyes, looking shocked with Draco. "And you would marry him?" she said quietly when she had recovered. "No children, just up and marry Harry Potter? After just this short time being with him?"
Draco flushed. "I have known him for seven years," he said softly.
"I certainly never heard anything good about him in most of those seven years," Narcissa answered. "If anything, just the opposite."
Draco half smiled, shaking his head. "From Father, from other Death Eater families, from the Ministry?"
"From even you, Draco," she said, raising her eyebrows.
"If I had said anything good about the infamous Harry Potter, what would Father have done?" he asked.
She sighed. "Well, he simply would have disagreed," she said. "He's a half-blood, and he's practically one of those blood traitor Weasleys. And there's that Mudblood girl. You really want all that?" She seemed uncomprehending.
"Mother, you and I are blood traitors," he reminded, his voice gentle but firm as well.
She narrowed her eyes slightly. "I am a blood traitor? I gladly take the title. I did it to save my son's life, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. And yes, you will be considered one if you are to associate with the Weasley family and that Granger. Harry Potter is at least half, but is not too terribly popular among the higher families, as his people put most of them in prison. Having him as an acquaintance is not what they would question, but a lover is not something they will understand, and certainly not something your father will understand."
Draco was trembling as he got to his feet and drew himself up straight. "I am not a blood traitor just by association. I am one in my own right, through my own very deliberate efforts," he said in a firm voice.
"What are you talking about?" Narcissa asked, staring up at him.
Draco wasn't even sure why he was telling her this after he had gone to such lengths to keep if from his parents. "I worked against Voldemort for nearly a year before he fell."
Narcissa blinked a few times. "You what?" she drew her head back slightly as if to get Draco in better focus.
"I hated him," Draco said. "I hated what he did to us and what he was doing to our world."
Narcissa shook now. "Do you know what he would have done to you, Draco?" she asked, whispering as she looked at him. "He would have skinned you alive. Literally."
"Do you know what he actually did to me? What he let the Carrows and others do to me?" Draco's voice broke now. "I would sooner have died than live like that."
Tears welled in Narcissa's eyes as she brought a hand to her mouth. "Come here," she whispered in a tiny voice, holding her arms open.
Draco did break then, and he dropped to his knees to wrap his arms around his mother. "I was happy before he came back. I thought we were," he whispered. "Then he destroyed everything."
"I know, my baby, I know," she said, wrapping her arms about him in return. "I'll never forgive myself for allowing any of that into our home. The Dark Lord went too far, and Bellatrix, when she came back... there was nothing I could do. I couldn't take you and run." She was openly crying now and she tried to go on. "Your father was... when The Dark Lord came back that night... he was terrified. We didn't know what to do. Father had the Mark and He would've found us. We thought if we just listened, if we just handed Him the Galleons, He would leave us alone, but Father didn't get the prophecy from the Ministry and He was so angry." She rocked with Draco, holding him tightly against herself. "We couldn't disobey Him, Draco," she whispered. "He would have killed all of us. He would have killed you."
"Which is one of the many reasons he needed to die," Draco nearly growled. "I don't blame you, Mother, I don't. But I couldn't stand by and let him win. It's most of why I helped Harry and his friends," he said.
"You helped them?" she said, still holding him.
"Yes, I did, when I could," Draco admitted.
She closed her eyes and held him tighter. "I'm glad Potter won," she whispered. "I never wanted anything like what the Dark Lord was doing, not as far as he took it. Your father didn't either. He lied to all of us and went mad trying to kill Potter. But Potter does stand for a lot of things your father looks down upon. Associating with Mudbloods, werewolf laws, goblin rights - it's preposterous. But I cannot stop you, and neither can he, no matter what we think."
"I want to marry for love, not breeding or status," Draco whispered back. "I know Father will be angry. I just can't stand the idea of marrying some witch I don't have feelings for just to make a child. That can't be all I am good for."
"No, of course it isn't," she said. "We wanted you to find someone to love, but if you have already found it, what can we do but scream and shout?"
Draco pulled back, looking sadly in his mother's eyes. "I want to make you proud, both of you," he said. "But I never thought he would love me back. All that time and he always hated me."
She sighed quietly, wiping her eyes. "You deserve to be happy," she said. "And we are proud of you. You're our son, and you've obviously helped win the war, even if we were fighting on the opposite side - no matter the reasons."
"Really?" Draco asked, voice sounding much younger then.
"Of course, Draco," she said, kissing his forehead. "Your father will be very, very angry. But he loves you."
"Thank you, Mother," Draco said softly. "Then you won't be angry when I move in with him?"
She sighed one last time. "Well, I'm not leaping for joy," she said with a small smile, "but no. I won't be angry."
Draco smiled. "And you will come to dinner?" he asked, smirking.
She raised her eyebrows. "Let's not push, hm?" she said lightly, kissing his cheek. "I'll think about it," she said though, when she had pulled back. "It is the Black house."
"Yes, it is," Draco nodded. "And we have a house-elf."
She let out an amused-sounding breath. "Yes, I know."
"So if you won't come there, do you want to have him come to dinner here?" Draco asked, still pushing.
"What? Am I supposed to absolutely fall in love with him now?" she asked, though she was still smiling slightly.
"Of course," Draco answered smugly.
She rolled her eyes. "You know he can come here whenever he likes," she said. "He's certainly been here enough already."
"Good," Draco answered, and kissed her on the cheek. "We'll be over Sunday."
She sighed, though teasingly. "I'll be waiting with bated breath."