A Love So Belated
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
46,655
Reviews:
358
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
46,655
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 5: Delayed Gratitude
Chapter Number/Total: 5/44
Chapter Title: Delayed Gratitude
Words: 2870 Words
Harry leaned back in his chair, feeling relaxed and happy. "That really was a good game," he said for what must have been the tenth time. And it really had been a good Quidditch match, even better than the first one he and Draco had attended together. They were at a restaurant again – Harry thought it might be a nice routine to form – Quidditch and then dinner. It had been nice so far, anyway.
"I enjoyed it," Draco agreed, glancing up from the menu he was reading.
Harry smiled at him. "We should go again," he said. "When I'm not beating you at chess that is." But it was a joke, as Draco had actually been the winner when they'd played.
Draco smirked and set the menu aside. Before he could reply, the waiter came to take their order. He picked one of the specials and then waited for Harry.
Harry ordered his food as well, and was still smiling when he'd finished. He liked to see how much he could actually get Draco to smile. It was like a challenge in and of itself and it made him feel good. Why that was, he didn't exactly know. He didn't even know why Draco seemed to like him. He hadn't in school, but Harry didn't ask.
Draco never smiled this much except around Harry. His mother had actually complained about him never smiling anymore. He hadn't known what to say to her. It seemed that anything he said either hurt her feelings or worried her. But with Harry, he felt like he could relax. He actually felt that he liked himself more when they were together.
"So," said Harry. "You been studying at all?"
Draco's fork was halfway to his mouth when he paused, frowning. "Studying?"
Harry nodded, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah," he said. "You know, for N.E.W.T.s. You did get a letter from the Ministry about it, right?"
Draco snorted. "Sure, they sent a letter," he drawled, shaking his head.
Harry frowned now, too. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked. "Aren't you going to take them?"
Draco arched an eyebrow. "Why should I?"
Harry wondered if Draco was joking. "Seriously?"
Draco placed his fork down and leaned back in his chair, unsure of what to say to Harry about this. "It would be pointless," he said finally.
Harry was a bit confused. "Why do you say that?" he asked. "N.E.W.T.s are the most important exams there are."
"What are N.E.W.T.s used for, Harry?" Draco drawled.
Harry stared at him for a moment. "Careers ..." he said slowly.
"Now assume I actually had a chance to study in seventh year and would be interested in a career. Who do you think would hire a Malfoy after all that has happened?" Draco asked, voice calmer than he felt on this topic.
Harry sighed and looked down at his plate. "Well," he said quietly. "You could still take them just in case, I suppose. I haven't had any time to study."
"You will do fine," Draco said. "I just don't see the point for me."
Harry sighed again. He hated it when Draco talked like he would never be a normal person out in society again, and he hated how convincing he was much of the time. "You could help me study for Potions," he suggested with a bit of a smile, wanting to make the mood lighter again.
"Sure, I could do that and any other topics you like," Draco said, smiling wryly.
Harry blushed a little, though he didn't know exactly why. "Sure," he agreed. "I was going to have Ginny help me, since Hermione's going mad trying to study for herself, but Ginny has her own exams as well. No one got to take exams last year. And she has to do homework for seventh year until Christmas is over."
Draco nodded, not comfortable discussing Ginny Weasley but happy that Harry would be spending the time with him instead of her. "Not a problem," he said. "I have the time."
Harry smiled. "Great." He was actually sort of glad that he would have more of an excuse to see Draco, and, well, it was true that Ginny was going to be busy. Hogwarts had suffered major damage to not only to its stone walls, but also to its magical field. And teachers needed to be replaced as well. The school was closed until Christmas holiday was over, so students had to do their work at home, from lessons sent by the Ministry.
Draco smiled softly, his mind supplying images of them bent over a book together, sitting close. He flushed and picked up his glass to cover it.
They teased each other and joked through the rest of the meal, and Harry enjoyed watching Draco laugh after the N.E.W.T. discussion. "So," he said, leaning back again, "I'll be honest with you. I don't much fancy going home after this. Ron's at his brother's shop tonight and Ginny's actually over at Hermione's – probably talking about me and him," he snorted. "Care to do anything after we leave here?"
Draco looked up at him. "Well, I actually have something I would love to show you sometime," he said.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Draco smiled. "We have a collection of Quidditch memorabilia. Robes, bats and the like that were signed by players. Even some winning Snitches."
Both Harry's eyebrows rose. "Really?" he asked, honestly interested.
"Entire room full of display cases, in fact," Draco replied, grinning.
"Wow," said Harry, setting his fork down. "I would be interested in seeing it."
"Do you want to skip dessert here and go to the Manor with me?" Draco asked, heart speeding up as he did. "I'm sure we have something sweet that will do."
"Sure," Harry answered with a smile, then reached for the money in his pocket. "I'll get the bill."
Draco was tempted to argue, but inclined his head in a small nod. "I'll get the next meal then," he offered.
Harry smiled. "Deal."
He paid for their dinner and the two of them showed up at the Manor just as the sun was beginning to sink down into the horizon.
Draco opened the door and gestured for Harry to enter.
Harry stepped into the house, hands in his pockets as he went. He had been to the Manor before – well, obviously when he had returned Draco's wand, and a few other times, but he'd also been there that awful day in the Spring. It seemed less oppressive without Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters. Other than that, it seemed little had changed.
The house-elf appeared again and Draco handed him his jacket and looked to Harry.
"Lead on," Harry said with a small smile. He wondered if the house-elf was related to Dobby.
Draco smiled. "We will have tea and pudding in the parlour in a bit," he told the elf. "Let my mother know we are here." He was tempted to reach for Harry's hand but instead gestured for Harry to follow him as he walked down into a corridor.
Harry walked with Draco through the very large house, staring around. Everything looked very expensive and old. It was exactly what he would have expected. "Nice place," he said quietly, feeling like even speaking too loudly might break something antique.
"Thank you," Draco said. He came to the Quidditch room and pulled his wand, nodding to Harry to acknowledge it, and cast a charm to unlock the door.
Harry followed him inside the room, and his eyes widened a bit when candles flickered magically to life. The room was huge. A least a dozen sets of full team robes lined the walls behind glass, along with broomsticks, Quaffles, still-struggling Bludgers, and tiny golden Snitches.
"Merlin," Harry gasped. "What? Have you got a set of robes from every team in Britain?"
"And a couple from France," Draco added, nodding. He stood in the doorway, watching Harry. He loved his look of wonder.
Harry stepped closer to examine the row of team robes nearest to him. "Catriona McCormack?" he said, highly impressed. "She played back in the sixties."
"Father also has a lot of the Bulgarian team's things as well," Draco added, pointing to a special display of Victor Krum.
Harry remembered Draco looking smug when Krum had sat at the Slytherin table back in fourth year. He walked over to the display. "I saw him a while ago," he said. "At Ron's brother's wedding."
"Wasn't he involved with Granger?" Draco asked, not wanting to talk about Bill Weasley. He felt a stab of guilt, remembering the injuries Fenrir had caused to the man and how it was his fault.
"Well, sort of, I guess," Harry answered. "They went to the Yule Ball together and wrote to each other for a couple years."
"Everyone seemed to have a crush on him," Draco recalled, thinking that he was one of the few immune to either Krum's or Fleur's allure at the time. He had been too obsessed with one of the other champions.
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "I think even Ron had a crush on him before Krum came on to Hermione," he joked.
Draco laughed, but didn't really think that it was improbable. He had always thought Ron's behaviour toward Harry seemed an infatuation as well. "You were amazing in those competitions," he said softly.
Harry flushed slightly and looked away from Draco. "Er, thanks," he replied. "Had help there too, but -" He shrugged.
"Having help doesn't lessen the performance," Draco said, stepping up beside Harry.
Harry was aware of Draco coming nearer. "I guess," he said, feeling a little awkward. He turned and stared around the room again. "This really is great."
Draco nudged Harry with his arm. "Let me show you something else." He walked across to a glowing pedestal in the middle of the room. Inside a glass box, lying on a velvet pillow, was a Snitch. He tapped the glass with his wand, reciting an incantation under his breath, and the glass disappeared. He gently lifted the Snitch from its bed and turned, holding it out to Harry.
Harry took the little ball in his hand, bringing it up to look at it. He could see scrawled on the surface the name Roderick Plumpton. He looked up at Draco, eyes wide again. "No way," he said. "Inventor of the Plumpton Pass? How did you get this?"
"Been in the collection since my grandfather's time," Draco answered. "It's from the match where the pass was first used."
"God," Harry said in amazement. "This is incredible."
Draco grinned, his eyes feasting on Harry's animated face. Intensity, he had said. Yes, very intense.
Harry continued to examine the Snitch, holding it up in the light.
There was a very soft knock on the door then that caught attention nonetheless. Harry turned his head to see Narcissa Malfoy standing there, dressed in casual, but beautiful blue robes, her blonde hair falling freely about her face and shoulders. She looked not at Harry but at her son.
"Mother," Draco said. "I was just showing Potter our Quidditch collection."
“Yes, Rusty told me," she replied, entering the room and crossing to Draco. She rubbed under his eyes with her thumbs and then reached up to fuss gently with his hair.
Harry watched in silence, still holding the Snitch.
"I invited him to stay for tea, as well," Draco said, rolling his eyes at her touches.
"That's fine," she replied, ignoring the eye roll and Harry both.
"Harry Potter, this is my mother, Narcissa Black Malfoy," Draco said politely. "I know you have technically met before, but ..."
Narcissa finally turned to Harry, after making sure Draco's collar was straight. She gave him a slightly cold smile.
Harry held his hand out and she shook it lightly with her own. "I'm happy to have you in our home."
Harry gave her a small smile and a nod.
Draco reached for the Snitch, allowing his fingers to slide over Harry's as he did. The touch felt electric to him but he controlled his reaction.
As Draco walked away to put the Snitch back, Narcissa inched closer to Harry and spoke so quietly that it was nearly a whisper. "Thank you for saving his life. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude." Her voice sounded so incredibly sincere that Harry stared for a moment, but then she looked away as if she hadn't said anything at all.
Draco replaced the Snitch and its protections, turning back to them. "Tea?"
Harry nodded, glancing at Narcissa but quickly back to Draco.
"Yes, my love," she said, giving Draco a smile that was only warmth.
Draco felt nervous about how his mother and Harry would get along. He knew what had happened in the forest and why his mother had done it. He was grateful, no matter what the reason. He took the lead out of the room but then stepped back to reset the wards.
Once alone again, Harry looked at Narcissa. For a second he thought about saying, "Thank you for saving mine," but didn't know if he needed to thank her. She probably wouldn't have saved him if not for Draco. So he said instead, very quietly, "You're welcome."
She glanced sideways at Harry and gave him a barely-there nod.
When Draco joined them again, they walked together to the parlour in silence, and their old house-elf brought them their tea. Harry sat beside Draco and Narcissa sat on Draco's right.
"Mr Potter," she began, making Draco's cup of tea for him and then her own, "How are you?"
"I guess I'm not doing too badly," Harry answered, feeling strangely like he was under intense scrutiny. "And yourself?"
She looked at him, arching a fine brow. "I have been better," she replied, and her voice drawled a little. Perhaps Draco didn't get all of his snark from his father.
Draco waited to see if his mother would pour their guest tea, and was pleased when she did. He reached for dessert plates. "Treacle tart?" he asked Harry.
"Yes, that's my favourite actually," Harry said to him.
Draco smirked. He knew it was Harry's favourite and had told the house-elf to make it that day. Just in case. He cut a slice for Harry and then handed the plate to him. He smiled at the man's profile, watching him concentrate as he added sugar to his tea.
Narcissa barely moved her eyes to look between Draco and Harry. She sat up straighter. "What do you do, Mr Potter?" she asked.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Um, well, nothing much yet, I guess," he said.
"Draco has been developing his potions," she said fondly, reaching to touch his hair again but then stopping herself.
"Yeah, he told me," Harry said.
Draco sat back against the sofa, sipping his tea and watching their interactions.
"He made me a Hair Conditioning Potion last week," she continued. "It works amazingly."
Harry nodded, finding it slightly amusing that Narcissa was bragging about Draco to him.
"Potter has never been interested in potions," Draco interjected, trying to discourage his mother from detailing his work.
Narcissa sighed, giving Draco a knowing look. "Did you have fun at the Quidditch game?" she asked.
Harry nodded again, more enthusiastically. "Yeah, it was great," he said. "Fantastic view."
"Yes, it is rather nice," Narcissa agreed. "I don't go very often though."
"Father was more into Quidditch than Mum," Draco said. "Harry said he would like to go again."
Narcissa smiled thinly at Harry, as if the true smiles were reserved only for her son, but her eyes looked terribly grateful. "That would be lovely."
"Yeah, can't pass up tickets to a seat like that," said Harry.
Draco's smile faltered. Was Harry only interested in the seat at the game? They seemed to be actually getting along. Not really friends yet, but possibly. He hid his reaction but didn't know what to say.
Narcissa was rather quick to respond to Harry. "Well, now, that's not the only thing you're going to go for, is it?" she said, placing an absent hand on Draco's arm, patting him gently and then letting it rest there. She let out a small polite laugh.
"Er, sorry?" Harry asked, confused.
"The seat," she clarified, eyes piercing again.
"Oh," said Harry in understanding. She wanted to know if he was using Draco. He shifted awkwardly on the sofa. "No, I – I like Draco." He flushed as he said it, not having known what else to say under that gaze. It was true, though. He found he did like Draco – as long as he didn't revert back to the way he'd been in school.
Draco flushed too. "Mother," he said, "let's not grill Harry, please.'' Though, he was secretly glad his mother had asked.
She patted him again, seeming pleased with Harry's answer. "Oh, don't be silly," she said to her son. She turned those blue eyes back on Harry like he was some sort of prey. "You're very welcome here whenever you like," she told him. "I'm sure Draco would agree."
"Yes," Draco said, sipping his tea again and looking happily at Harry.
Harry felt like Narcissa might claw him if he did anything other than agree with her about coming again. He didn't have to lie though. "Yes, that's nice of you," he said. "I'm sure I'll be over again."
She smiled and relaxed a little.
***
Harry left the Manor after he'd finished his dessert and Draco had walked him to the door. Narcissa was watching her son as he entered back into the parlour. She was silent as she sipped her second cup of tea, but then placed it down on the table. "It's good that you're speaking with him," she said.
Draco cocked his head, trying to judge what his mother really thought of the situation. "We ran into each other a few times and just started talking," he said casually.
She nodded. "Your father would be glad for it," she said, her tone matching Draco's. "If there's any one person who can ... right ... the Malfoy name – in our current times – it's Harry Potter. But, of course, he likes you as well."
Draco frowned, crossing back into the room and sitting down on a chair facing his mother. "This isn't about the Malfoy name. I'm not using him."
"Well, of course you're not," she said, looking alarmed that he would think she was suggesting such a thing. "It's just an added bonus."
"I don't want to complicate it," Draco admitted, looking down at his hands folded in his lap. "We have a few things in common and he seems willing to let the past not get in the way of that."
"He's a nice boy I'm sure," she nodded, seemingly forgetting all of the nasty things she had said about him herself throughout the years. "And really quite handsome," she added, still casual. "Has he a ... significant other?"
Draco's eyes narrowed. He had never talked about his interest in men with his mother. It seemed she knew anyway. "He has a girlfriend," he said cautiously.
Narcissa didn't react but her lips twitched a bit. "Ah," she commented lightly. "Well, he'll be a nice friend. I don't like you to spend so much time in the Manor."
Draco sighed. This was becoming an old argument. Draco didn't want to tell her about the things that happened to him when he did go out among the wizarding public. "I'm glad you approve of the friendship," he said.
She smiled at him and nodded, getting to her feet. She walked over, smoothed the hair off his forehead, and kissed it. "Goodnight, Draco," she said, rubbing his back a little before she turned to leave.
"Mother," he called after a moment, and waited until she looked back. "Thank you."
She smiled again, nodding once more before exiting the room.
Chapter Title: Delayed Gratitude
Words: 2870 Words
Harry leaned back in his chair, feeling relaxed and happy. "That really was a good game," he said for what must have been the tenth time. And it really had been a good Quidditch match, even better than the first one he and Draco had attended together. They were at a restaurant again – Harry thought it might be a nice routine to form – Quidditch and then dinner. It had been nice so far, anyway.
"I enjoyed it," Draco agreed, glancing up from the menu he was reading.
Harry smiled at him. "We should go again," he said. "When I'm not beating you at chess that is." But it was a joke, as Draco had actually been the winner when they'd played.
Draco smirked and set the menu aside. Before he could reply, the waiter came to take their order. He picked one of the specials and then waited for Harry.
Harry ordered his food as well, and was still smiling when he'd finished. He liked to see how much he could actually get Draco to smile. It was like a challenge in and of itself and it made him feel good. Why that was, he didn't exactly know. He didn't even know why Draco seemed to like him. He hadn't in school, but Harry didn't ask.
Draco never smiled this much except around Harry. His mother had actually complained about him never smiling anymore. He hadn't known what to say to her. It seemed that anything he said either hurt her feelings or worried her. But with Harry, he felt like he could relax. He actually felt that he liked himself more when they were together.
"So," said Harry. "You been studying at all?"
Draco's fork was halfway to his mouth when he paused, frowning. "Studying?"
Harry nodded, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah," he said. "You know, for N.E.W.T.s. You did get a letter from the Ministry about it, right?"
Draco snorted. "Sure, they sent a letter," he drawled, shaking his head.
Harry frowned now, too. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked. "Aren't you going to take them?"
Draco arched an eyebrow. "Why should I?"
Harry wondered if Draco was joking. "Seriously?"
Draco placed his fork down and leaned back in his chair, unsure of what to say to Harry about this. "It would be pointless," he said finally.
Harry was a bit confused. "Why do you say that?" he asked. "N.E.W.T.s are the most important exams there are."
"What are N.E.W.T.s used for, Harry?" Draco drawled.
Harry stared at him for a moment. "Careers ..." he said slowly.
"Now assume I actually had a chance to study in seventh year and would be interested in a career. Who do you think would hire a Malfoy after all that has happened?" Draco asked, voice calmer than he felt on this topic.
Harry sighed and looked down at his plate. "Well," he said quietly. "You could still take them just in case, I suppose. I haven't had any time to study."
"You will do fine," Draco said. "I just don't see the point for me."
Harry sighed again. He hated it when Draco talked like he would never be a normal person out in society again, and he hated how convincing he was much of the time. "You could help me study for Potions," he suggested with a bit of a smile, wanting to make the mood lighter again.
"Sure, I could do that and any other topics you like," Draco said, smiling wryly.
Harry blushed a little, though he didn't know exactly why. "Sure," he agreed. "I was going to have Ginny help me, since Hermione's going mad trying to study for herself, but Ginny has her own exams as well. No one got to take exams last year. And she has to do homework for seventh year until Christmas is over."
Draco nodded, not comfortable discussing Ginny Weasley but happy that Harry would be spending the time with him instead of her. "Not a problem," he said. "I have the time."
Harry smiled. "Great." He was actually sort of glad that he would have more of an excuse to see Draco, and, well, it was true that Ginny was going to be busy. Hogwarts had suffered major damage to not only to its stone walls, but also to its magical field. And teachers needed to be replaced as well. The school was closed until Christmas holiday was over, so students had to do their work at home, from lessons sent by the Ministry.
Draco smiled softly, his mind supplying images of them bent over a book together, sitting close. He flushed and picked up his glass to cover it.
They teased each other and joked through the rest of the meal, and Harry enjoyed watching Draco laugh after the N.E.W.T. discussion. "So," he said, leaning back again, "I'll be honest with you. I don't much fancy going home after this. Ron's at his brother's shop tonight and Ginny's actually over at Hermione's – probably talking about me and him," he snorted. "Care to do anything after we leave here?"
Draco looked up at him. "Well, I actually have something I would love to show you sometime," he said.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Draco smiled. "We have a collection of Quidditch memorabilia. Robes, bats and the like that were signed by players. Even some winning Snitches."
Both Harry's eyebrows rose. "Really?" he asked, honestly interested.
"Entire room full of display cases, in fact," Draco replied, grinning.
"Wow," said Harry, setting his fork down. "I would be interested in seeing it."
"Do you want to skip dessert here and go to the Manor with me?" Draco asked, heart speeding up as he did. "I'm sure we have something sweet that will do."
"Sure," Harry answered with a smile, then reached for the money in his pocket. "I'll get the bill."
Draco was tempted to argue, but inclined his head in a small nod. "I'll get the next meal then," he offered.
Harry smiled. "Deal."
He paid for their dinner and the two of them showed up at the Manor just as the sun was beginning to sink down into the horizon.
Draco opened the door and gestured for Harry to enter.
Harry stepped into the house, hands in his pockets as he went. He had been to the Manor before – well, obviously when he had returned Draco's wand, and a few other times, but he'd also been there that awful day in the Spring. It seemed less oppressive without Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters. Other than that, it seemed little had changed.
The house-elf appeared again and Draco handed him his jacket and looked to Harry.
"Lead on," Harry said with a small smile. He wondered if the house-elf was related to Dobby.
Draco smiled. "We will have tea and pudding in the parlour in a bit," he told the elf. "Let my mother know we are here." He was tempted to reach for Harry's hand but instead gestured for Harry to follow him as he walked down into a corridor.
Harry walked with Draco through the very large house, staring around. Everything looked very expensive and old. It was exactly what he would have expected. "Nice place," he said quietly, feeling like even speaking too loudly might break something antique.
"Thank you," Draco said. He came to the Quidditch room and pulled his wand, nodding to Harry to acknowledge it, and cast a charm to unlock the door.
Harry followed him inside the room, and his eyes widened a bit when candles flickered magically to life. The room was huge. A least a dozen sets of full team robes lined the walls behind glass, along with broomsticks, Quaffles, still-struggling Bludgers, and tiny golden Snitches.
"Merlin," Harry gasped. "What? Have you got a set of robes from every team in Britain?"
"And a couple from France," Draco added, nodding. He stood in the doorway, watching Harry. He loved his look of wonder.
Harry stepped closer to examine the row of team robes nearest to him. "Catriona McCormack?" he said, highly impressed. "She played back in the sixties."
"Father also has a lot of the Bulgarian team's things as well," Draco added, pointing to a special display of Victor Krum.
Harry remembered Draco looking smug when Krum had sat at the Slytherin table back in fourth year. He walked over to the display. "I saw him a while ago," he said. "At Ron's brother's wedding."
"Wasn't he involved with Granger?" Draco asked, not wanting to talk about Bill Weasley. He felt a stab of guilt, remembering the injuries Fenrir had caused to the man and how it was his fault.
"Well, sort of, I guess," Harry answered. "They went to the Yule Ball together and wrote to each other for a couple years."
"Everyone seemed to have a crush on him," Draco recalled, thinking that he was one of the few immune to either Krum's or Fleur's allure at the time. He had been too obsessed with one of the other champions.
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "I think even Ron had a crush on him before Krum came on to Hermione," he joked.
Draco laughed, but didn't really think that it was improbable. He had always thought Ron's behaviour toward Harry seemed an infatuation as well. "You were amazing in those competitions," he said softly.
Harry flushed slightly and looked away from Draco. "Er, thanks," he replied. "Had help there too, but -" He shrugged.
"Having help doesn't lessen the performance," Draco said, stepping up beside Harry.
Harry was aware of Draco coming nearer. "I guess," he said, feeling a little awkward. He turned and stared around the room again. "This really is great."
Draco nudged Harry with his arm. "Let me show you something else." He walked across to a glowing pedestal in the middle of the room. Inside a glass box, lying on a velvet pillow, was a Snitch. He tapped the glass with his wand, reciting an incantation under his breath, and the glass disappeared. He gently lifted the Snitch from its bed and turned, holding it out to Harry.
Harry took the little ball in his hand, bringing it up to look at it. He could see scrawled on the surface the name Roderick Plumpton. He looked up at Draco, eyes wide again. "No way," he said. "Inventor of the Plumpton Pass? How did you get this?"
"Been in the collection since my grandfather's time," Draco answered. "It's from the match where the pass was first used."
"God," Harry said in amazement. "This is incredible."
Draco grinned, his eyes feasting on Harry's animated face. Intensity, he had said. Yes, very intense.
Harry continued to examine the Snitch, holding it up in the light.
There was a very soft knock on the door then that caught attention nonetheless. Harry turned his head to see Narcissa Malfoy standing there, dressed in casual, but beautiful blue robes, her blonde hair falling freely about her face and shoulders. She looked not at Harry but at her son.
"Mother," Draco said. "I was just showing Potter our Quidditch collection."
“Yes, Rusty told me," she replied, entering the room and crossing to Draco. She rubbed under his eyes with her thumbs and then reached up to fuss gently with his hair.
Harry watched in silence, still holding the Snitch.
"I invited him to stay for tea, as well," Draco said, rolling his eyes at her touches.
"That's fine," she replied, ignoring the eye roll and Harry both.
"Harry Potter, this is my mother, Narcissa Black Malfoy," Draco said politely. "I know you have technically met before, but ..."
Narcissa finally turned to Harry, after making sure Draco's collar was straight. She gave him a slightly cold smile.
Harry held his hand out and she shook it lightly with her own. "I'm happy to have you in our home."
Harry gave her a small smile and a nod.
Draco reached for the Snitch, allowing his fingers to slide over Harry's as he did. The touch felt electric to him but he controlled his reaction.
As Draco walked away to put the Snitch back, Narcissa inched closer to Harry and spoke so quietly that it was nearly a whisper. "Thank you for saving his life. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude." Her voice sounded so incredibly sincere that Harry stared for a moment, but then she looked away as if she hadn't said anything at all.
Draco replaced the Snitch and its protections, turning back to them. "Tea?"
Harry nodded, glancing at Narcissa but quickly back to Draco.
"Yes, my love," she said, giving Draco a smile that was only warmth.
Draco felt nervous about how his mother and Harry would get along. He knew what had happened in the forest and why his mother had done it. He was grateful, no matter what the reason. He took the lead out of the room but then stepped back to reset the wards.
Once alone again, Harry looked at Narcissa. For a second he thought about saying, "Thank you for saving mine," but didn't know if he needed to thank her. She probably wouldn't have saved him if not for Draco. So he said instead, very quietly, "You're welcome."
She glanced sideways at Harry and gave him a barely-there nod.
When Draco joined them again, they walked together to the parlour in silence, and their old house-elf brought them their tea. Harry sat beside Draco and Narcissa sat on Draco's right.
"Mr Potter," she began, making Draco's cup of tea for him and then her own, "How are you?"
"I guess I'm not doing too badly," Harry answered, feeling strangely like he was under intense scrutiny. "And yourself?"
She looked at him, arching a fine brow. "I have been better," she replied, and her voice drawled a little. Perhaps Draco didn't get all of his snark from his father.
Draco waited to see if his mother would pour their guest tea, and was pleased when she did. He reached for dessert plates. "Treacle tart?" he asked Harry.
"Yes, that's my favourite actually," Harry said to him.
Draco smirked. He knew it was Harry's favourite and had told the house-elf to make it that day. Just in case. He cut a slice for Harry and then handed the plate to him. He smiled at the man's profile, watching him concentrate as he added sugar to his tea.
Narcissa barely moved her eyes to look between Draco and Harry. She sat up straighter. "What do you do, Mr Potter?" she asked.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Um, well, nothing much yet, I guess," he said.
"Draco has been developing his potions," she said fondly, reaching to touch his hair again but then stopping herself.
"Yeah, he told me," Harry said.
Draco sat back against the sofa, sipping his tea and watching their interactions.
"He made me a Hair Conditioning Potion last week," she continued. "It works amazingly."
Harry nodded, finding it slightly amusing that Narcissa was bragging about Draco to him.
"Potter has never been interested in potions," Draco interjected, trying to discourage his mother from detailing his work.
Narcissa sighed, giving Draco a knowing look. "Did you have fun at the Quidditch game?" she asked.
Harry nodded again, more enthusiastically. "Yeah, it was great," he said. "Fantastic view."
"Yes, it is rather nice," Narcissa agreed. "I don't go very often though."
"Father was more into Quidditch than Mum," Draco said. "Harry said he would like to go again."
Narcissa smiled thinly at Harry, as if the true smiles were reserved only for her son, but her eyes looked terribly grateful. "That would be lovely."
"Yeah, can't pass up tickets to a seat like that," said Harry.
Draco's smile faltered. Was Harry only interested in the seat at the game? They seemed to be actually getting along. Not really friends yet, but possibly. He hid his reaction but didn't know what to say.
Narcissa was rather quick to respond to Harry. "Well, now, that's not the only thing you're going to go for, is it?" she said, placing an absent hand on Draco's arm, patting him gently and then letting it rest there. She let out a small polite laugh.
"Er, sorry?" Harry asked, confused.
"The seat," she clarified, eyes piercing again.
"Oh," said Harry in understanding. She wanted to know if he was using Draco. He shifted awkwardly on the sofa. "No, I – I like Draco." He flushed as he said it, not having known what else to say under that gaze. It was true, though. He found he did like Draco – as long as he didn't revert back to the way he'd been in school.
Draco flushed too. "Mother," he said, "let's not grill Harry, please.'' Though, he was secretly glad his mother had asked.
She patted him again, seeming pleased with Harry's answer. "Oh, don't be silly," she said to her son. She turned those blue eyes back on Harry like he was some sort of prey. "You're very welcome here whenever you like," she told him. "I'm sure Draco would agree."
"Yes," Draco said, sipping his tea again and looking happily at Harry.
Harry felt like Narcissa might claw him if he did anything other than agree with her about coming again. He didn't have to lie though. "Yes, that's nice of you," he said. "I'm sure I'll be over again."
She smiled and relaxed a little.
***
Harry left the Manor after he'd finished his dessert and Draco had walked him to the door. Narcissa was watching her son as he entered back into the parlour. She was silent as she sipped her second cup of tea, but then placed it down on the table. "It's good that you're speaking with him," she said.
Draco cocked his head, trying to judge what his mother really thought of the situation. "We ran into each other a few times and just started talking," he said casually.
She nodded. "Your father would be glad for it," she said, her tone matching Draco's. "If there's any one person who can ... right ... the Malfoy name – in our current times – it's Harry Potter. But, of course, he likes you as well."
Draco frowned, crossing back into the room and sitting down on a chair facing his mother. "This isn't about the Malfoy name. I'm not using him."
"Well, of course you're not," she said, looking alarmed that he would think she was suggesting such a thing. "It's just an added bonus."
"I don't want to complicate it," Draco admitted, looking down at his hands folded in his lap. "We have a few things in common and he seems willing to let the past not get in the way of that."
"He's a nice boy I'm sure," she nodded, seemingly forgetting all of the nasty things she had said about him herself throughout the years. "And really quite handsome," she added, still casual. "Has he a ... significant other?"
Draco's eyes narrowed. He had never talked about his interest in men with his mother. It seemed she knew anyway. "He has a girlfriend," he said cautiously.
Narcissa didn't react but her lips twitched a bit. "Ah," she commented lightly. "Well, he'll be a nice friend. I don't like you to spend so much time in the Manor."
Draco sighed. This was becoming an old argument. Draco didn't want to tell her about the things that happened to him when he did go out among the wizarding public. "I'm glad you approve of the friendship," he said.
She smiled at him and nodded, getting to her feet. She walked over, smoothed the hair off his forehead, and kissed it. "Goodnight, Draco," she said, rubbing his back a little before she turned to leave.
"Mother," he called after a moment, and waited until she looked back. "Thank you."
She smiled again, nodding once more before exiting the room.