Cat and Mouse

Author: : TheSiner
Title : : Cat and Mouse
Genre: : Romance/Humor
Pairing: : Harry/Lucius (main)
Other pairings: Ain’t telling you!
Summary: : There are always consequences to your actions. Lucius learns the hard way when he catches Harry, but something happens and it’s not so obvious who the cat is and who the mouse is anymore. Why Harry suddenly likes Lucius so much?
Rating: : It is bad enough, but could be worse.
Disclaimer: : These characters are not my own and belong to J.K. Rowling and affiliates.
Warnings: : slash, mpreg, non-con sex (I guess - cos Harry is 16), no explicit sex, swearing, OOC, A/U (forget of HBP and OOTP), noncanon, bad grammar, soap-opera elements. Not explicit!!!
A/N: Setting – after Harry’s fifth year.
Complete: Yes (will be updated in seven parts)

Fifth Part


Harry stepped in the fireplace and flooed exactly into the Malfoy library.

He was as ‘graceful’ as usually and stumbled out of the fireplace almost tumbling down full length. But that was not meant to happen; Harry fell straight in his husband’s arms.

Harry’s face was pressed against Lucius Malfoy’s chest. He could smell the man. It was the same husky, manly scent as the first time, intoxicating. Strong arms were holding him up against the firm body.

It ended too soon for Harry’s liking.

“Are you alright?” The older man inquired, helping his husband to find his feet and brushing cinder off boy’s robe.

“Ye-ess,” Harry hardly managed. Malfoy was touching him! That was exciting, even if casual.

“Then, welcome to the Malfoy Manor,” Lucius finally took his hands off Harry’s shoulders and turned around. “I will show you to your room.”

The boy followed his husband admiring the mansion and also trying not to fall behind. Harry had never been in a house like this! The Burrow was…the Burrow. It had certain appeal. Dursleys’ house however was neat and clean, but much, much smaller and much, much less splendid.

This was a castle. There was parquet and marble flooring, velvet and artwork everywhere (some portraits were glaring at him arrogantly). A marble sculpture of a beautiful maiden winked at him. Harry wished Malfoy would walk slower to let him take a better look at everything.

Both men walked upstairs and stopped in the front of large door. It was two times wider and higher than doors in Dursleys’ house. Impressing like everything in this house.
Harry’s room was not just a room. Far cry from a cupboard or Dudley’s second bedroom. It was a suit with a guestroom, a bedroom and a bathroom. Rooms were furnished and decorated with green silks, velvets and plush carpets. The Room was too green and pompous for Harry’s liking, but very spacious and overall nice and no doubt, comfortable. The furniture reminded him of old castles or museums and made him want to touch it to feel if it was really as soft and comfortable as it appeared to be. Harry was sure that it was antique and very valuable. Damn! His room was larger than Dursley’s second floor!

Harry walked over to the windows. They were wide and high. He could see the Malfoys’ gardens. Everything was covered in snow at the moment and looked like a winter wonderland.

Lucius left his spouse alone for now. He had one more teenager coming home with Hogwarts express tonight. He would have a lot of explaining to do. And Draco would not be happy about their houseguest... not a guest. A family member, Lucius corrected himself.

***

Lucius was sitting in the large leather armchair in his study when Draco knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Lucius beckoned. He was already getting a headache thinking what would be his son’s reaction to the news.

“Hello, father, how are you doing?” Malfoy junior sat down on the chair opposite his father.

“I am fine, my son. But, there is something I need to tell you,” the older blonde began. “And you are not going to like it, even more. You are probably going to hate me. However, you will have to accept it.”

Draco frowned. He didn’t like what he heard.

“Have we lost our fortune, father?” The boy tried to joke, because his father’s face was grave serious.

Corners of Lucius’s lips twitched: “Of course, not.”

“Can’t be anything too bad then,” Draco smiled back.

“I am sure, I will be able to change your mind. I got married,” Lucius stated indifferently.

Other slytherin’s eyes bulged: “What! No?”

“Yes.”

“Are you crazy?! How could you! How could you get married this so soon after mother’s death! Why? I mean you could have whoever you want, why did you had to get married! It’s madness! Why didn’t you tell me sooner! Oh, Merlin!” Draco knew he was babbling, but he had not expected THAT.

“I am telling you now. I had good reasons not to tell you sooner. Speaking about your mother, you knew that we were more friends than lovers. I am still grieving, because I held her dear, but she wouldn’t mind me mowing on and I wouldn’t mind her doing the same thing in my situation.”

Draco sighed. Yes, he new that his parents’ marriage was arranged and they were just allies and companions. Of course, if not that terrible accident with those damned gloves his father would never have left her. That was really sad, so stupid and tragic. His dear mother had purchased a pair of cursed gloves by accident and worn them for several hours. When she noticed that they were in fact a dark artifact it was already too late. So pretty gloves, white, soft dragonhide… Draco felt tears threatening to come in his eyes again and tried to concentrate on what his father was telling.

An utter nonsense.

“You must know that I really didn’t have much choice. I had to get married. My partner is pregnant. You are going to have a brother. You should understand, that I couldn’t allow a bastard Malfoy running around. And before you ask how did that happened, well, my mate is a magical being. Partly. To be precise - a feline enchantress. My partner was in heat. That means almost certain conception. Of course I didn’t know aware of those facts when we met. It was an accident.”

Draco was shocked again.

“Wow! Enchantress? Really? They are very rare! Wow…I have red about them a lot in books about the Roman Empire, ancient Greece and Egypt,” boy’s expression turned into knowing, cocky smirk. “Yeah, I guess I can’t blame you for not being able to say, ‘no’.”

Lucius rolled his eyes. He would have guessed that marrying someone who was bred for giving sexual pleasure sounded like every teenage boy’s dream.

“Don’t equate me to the adolescent like yourself, son. Some of us have little more restraint.”

Draco snorted. “Oh, don’t tell me, I know about your restraint…Ok, who is she? Does she have a sister?”

“Actually it is a ‘he’ and you know him very well, because he is from Hogwarts.”

“Faatheer…” Draco groaned. “You married a boy of my age? Wait, didn’t you say your mate was pregnant?”

“Stop being that awfully mugglelike. That doesn’t suit you. It is rare, but not impossible,” Lucius berated.

“Wait a minute! But I haven’t seen any pregnant boys at Hogwarts! I would have noticed!”

“Have you heard of concealment charms?” The eldest Malfoy sounded annoyed with his son’s slowness.

“Yeah, right…He is a Slytherin, isn’t he?” Draco was stunned, but this was also thrilling in a way.

“No. Definitely not, he is a Gryffindor.”

“Father! No,” Draco exclaimed unbelievingly.

“Yes, I said, you are not going to like it, son. It is Harry Potter.”

Draco gaped looking at his father in incredulity. Then he burst in laughter.

“Dad, you almost gave me the shock of my life! Very funny! So, who is it? Stop joking like this. You will give me a heart attack.”

Lucius sighed inwardly. “I am not joking. I married Harry Potter. He is an enchantress. He is pregnant with my child and he is here in the manor right now. He is upstairs, getting acquainted with his rooms.”

Young Slytherins expression turned blank. He looked at his father with utter shock and horror written all over his face. Then crimson rose in boy’s cheeks.

“How could you!” He burst out. “How…how…” Draco didn’t have words to express his present feelings, so he just sprang to his feet and fled from library leaving his father alone.

Lucius didn’t call his son back and didn’t try to follow him. He decided to give Draco time to think about everything and calm down.

“Two teenage boys who hate each other, one of them Malfoy, other hormonal. Merry Christmas Lucius,” he rubbed his temple and let out a well deserved sigh.

***


Harry Potter was standing in the middle of his room. He didn’t know what to do with himself. Actually he would like to go outside, have a walk, or just explore the Mansion from inside, but the boy was not sure if he could simply go. Maybe he was not allowed. Maybe he should ask Malfoy first…

Then suddenly the door sprung open and deadly pale Draco Malfoy barged in the room. Harry was stunned, but he didn’t have any time to think what to do or say. Draco approached the smaller boy and slapped him across his face with all his might. Harry pressed his hand against the reddening cheek and stumbled back falling on the ground from impact.

“You, fucking whore!” Draco yelled furiously. “Didn’t you have enough with your fan club, which is almost all the wizarding world, and your bloody Gryffindor groupies? You had to fuck my father and force him to marry you! You little dirty bastard! \”

Harry was speechless and felt a lump forming in his throat. However other boy was far from finished:

“So you are running around and spreading your legs for everyone who gets in your way? Who would have thought that The-Boy-Who-Lived is such a needy slut! But of course it’s in your nature. How it feels to be a fuck toy, ehe? So that’s why those Gryffindorks love you so much! Do you suck them all off after quiditch games? Do you do it for money? How much for a blow-job, Potter?”

Harry tried to close his ears with his hands to stop hearing all the terrible things Malfoy was saying. He felt two hot streams pouring down his cheeks. He didn’t want Draco to se him crying, but he couldn’t help it. The boy in front of him sounded so much like Vernon ‘You pathetic, worthless freak…Your mother was a freakish whore…’.

“What is it, Potter? Can’t stand the truth? Malfoys don’t cry. But you are not a Malfoy, right? And never be! You will be just a whore who tricked my father! You are not even a pureblood. Do you think you can take my mother’s place? Not while I am here! You are pathetic. You disgust me,” when Draco couldn’t think of any more insults he left, leaving the other boy sobbing lying in the heap on the floor.

Draco wouldn’t admit it, but he had started feeling uneasy looking at his weeping rival.

***

Lucius was still sitting in the library and sipping whiskey when a house elf popped up in front of him.

“Mmm…master Malfoy say Creepy watch master Harry. Creepy watching. Master Harry upset!” Hose elf bawled out.

“Why is he upset?”

“Young master yelling, then master Harry…master Harry…master crying!” Elf stammered out in high pitched voice. Someone crying in Malfoy manor was a rare occurrence and that usually meant that something terrible had happened. So elf was scared dead.

“I will take care of it, you can go.” Lucius rose from his seat.

I will kill Draco! Why not? I am having another heir in four months.

Lucius knocked on the door. No one answered and he knocked again. When he still didn’t get any response, he just walked in the suit. Potter wasn’t there so he went to the bedroom.

When Lucius opened the bedroom door he saw his young husband lying on the bed, hugging a pillow and crying his little, sensitive Gryfindor heart out.

“Mr. Potter, please calm down, it’s not good for the child. Whatever…”

“Harry!” Boy spat. “Call me Harry for Gods sake! That’s my name…,” his voice broke into heart wrenching sobs again.

“Harry,” Lucius continued calmly. “Control yourself, please. Whatever Draco told you was because he was angry. He shouldn’t have done that of course. However you should not take it to heart.”

Messy bob lifted from the bed ant two green-red eyes glared at older man: “Heart? What do you know about hearts? Do you even have one?” Boy stumbled of the bed and run in the bathroom shutting the door behind.

Lucius walked to the bathroom and listened. He heard water running.

“Po-Harry, don’t you think I can open this door?” He asked.

The door shot open missing his nose only by bit.

”I will be fine! Just leave me alone!” And the door banged close again.

Lucius sighed. Everything would be much simpler if he didn’t have a heart. However he decided to leave his husband alone. He knew better not to try reasoning with pregnant wom- person. He still remembered how Narcissa was then. And Cissa was usually cold-blooded and calm and a lady which wasn’t thing one could say about Potter if Severus was right. That slightly bothered Lucius.

Now he had another teenager to take care of.

***

Lucius walked in his son’s room without knocking in the right moment to see Draco blowing up a large ancient vase. Youngest blonde didn’t pay his father any attention; he just cast quick reparo and blew the vase up again.

The Malfoy senior decided that had watched his son’s antics for long enough: “Quit playing, Draco. We are going to talk.”

The boy turned around, folded arms on his chest wand in his right hand and shoot his father a challenging look.

“That’s better. I have a question for you, son. What the hell were you thinking upsetting my husband who is also pregnant? Don’t you know how dangerous that is?” Lucius scolded.

“Why should I care for your w…” Draco started, but didn’t finish sentence noticing the look in his father’s cold eyes – a clear warning. The older Malfoy was seriously pissed-off. While Lucius could hold his cold demeanor when others found it impossible, if he lost his temper and started really show it, the culprit was royally fucked. Draco wasn’t comfortable being on the receiving end of his father’s anger.

Lucius almost couldn’t suppress a smirk seeing that his son realized the situation: “I am disappointed in you. However I will forgive you this time, Draco. I understand that you are upset, but if you will choose to repeat something like this, I assure I will make you regret it.”

Draco averted his eyes and hung his head. Lucius sighed inwardly: “You must accept that not always everything happens as you want it, even if you are a Malfoy, but you must face this situation as a real Malfoy and be mature enough to understand that there are things more important than your childish rivalry with my husband.
I am not going to replace you, you are my oldest son and heir, but you must understand that my husband is carrying a child who is also a Malfoy, your brother, if you hurt Mr. Potter, you hurt the child too. I can’t allow it. I will protect your brother as much as I would protect you. Family is most important for a Malfoy. I am still the head of this family and it was my decision to marry Harry Potter. If you will not accept my decision, there will be serious consequences. This is the first and the last warning and believe me I am being serious. I have nothing more to tell you. Think about it.”

And with that Lucius left the room hoping that Draco would get over the initial shock and get used to the idea.

***

Harry was not sure how much time had passed, when he finally calmed down and stopped crying. Or he just didn’t have any tears left. His eyes were red and puffy now. The boy was feeling so miserable. He felt like a ten years old kid who was locked up in the cupboard again. Cage was a cage. One was small and dusty other spacious and luxurious. There was not so much difference after all. And he didn’t even fit in this cage, he was not god enough. Draco had made it very clear.

But then there was Lucius. His husband. His child’s father. How exactly did he feel about the man? Strange. Confused. Excited.

When Lucius touched and looked at him with his silver-gray eyes…

Harry couldn’t figure out if he liked or hated how his husband was looking at him. Hell, he couldn’t even define how exactly Lucius was looking at him needles to say he didn’t really understand how he felt about it. But Harry was sure that Lucius was looking at him somehow and that it made him feel…funny? No, not funny…

Hm, how exactly should I feel being around my husband who has been my enemy as long as I know him? What does he want from me right now?

Then one of the house elves – Creepy – popped up in his room telling that the diner was served at seven. When Harry asked if he could just have a meal in his room elf’s already round, ball-like eyes bulged in fear and anguish and the strange creature’s behavior made it clear that missing Malfoys’ family dinner or only being late was something unthinkable.

Harry signed and gave up heading down the stairs were he suspected the dinning room could be found. It was already three minutes before seven.

When the boy sat down at the table he almost couldn’t swallow anything. Draco Malfoy was there, trying to ignore Harry, but that wasn’t actually working and the Gryffindor could feel two grey eyes fixed on him. No, four gray eyes, the oldest Malfoy was doing the same. Harry felt like a bug under a magnifier.

He was not far from the truth. Draco tried to think of one hundred ways how to kill someone. Slow and painfully.
Lucius was trying to appear unaffected by the fact that the delicate beauty who was plaguing his dreams and wanking sessions was sitting in front of him. He was trying very hard and probably overdoing it.

He still heard Draco’s accusing words in his head shouting: “Whore! Slut! Fuck toy! Worthless freak!” Oh, Merlin, maybe once again he was stuck with a family who hated him.

The boy took a sip of water trying to hide his slightly trembling hands. But shouting voices in his head were getting only louder. And those eyes scrutinizing him! And Lucius Malfoy sitting there, looking like a marble statue. Damn that man and his perfect demeanor!

Harry felt familiar stinging in his eyes.

I am not going to cry! Not now…

No way! Harry was not able to calm down and to stop the tears from coming. He could not stand this anymore. He also could not humiliate himself breaking down in front of both Malfoys. Damn hormones! He jumped on his feet. “Excuse me, I am not hungry anymore” he murmured, fled the room and dashed up the stairs.

***

Draco smirked at his father.

Lucius was angry. Harry Potter who was now a Malfoy had humiliated him in front of his son! It was important to prove Draco that Harry was an acceptable spouse. But tonight the resident Gryffindork had demonstrated exactly the opposite.

Insolent boy! How dares he! This kind of behavior is unacceptable. It is obvious that Severus is right; Harry has been spoiled rotten by his muggle relatives and has no proper breeding. Who knows what muggles teach their children? Of course one can expect nothing much from those disgusting, wretched creatures . Maybie It is not actually boy’s fault that he had not seen anything better during his life. Damn that Dumbledore, it is obvious that wizarding children’s’ upbringing shouldn’t be left to muggles.

However this will have to change. My young husband will have to learn some ground rules. He is still young. I can teach him everything I want. I can turn him into a respectable pureblood in no time.

Lucius knocked on Harry’s door. After hearing muffled ‘come in’ he walked in the room. Harry was sitting on the sofa with ‘Quidditch Through The Ages’ on his lap. Upside down. Lucius frowned mentally.

“Mr. Potter, Harry. There are some things we need to discuss,” the older man stated coldly.

The boy looked at his husband questioningly, he wasn’t going to say anything, he didn’t even want to see Lucius right now let alone talk to him. Te older man was so confusing. And he had no idea what he had done wrong this time. The older man was obviously irate about something.

Of course Lucius was going to speak his mind nonetheless.

“Harry, I don’t know how it was in your family,” the blonde began locking his steely gray eyes on his spouse. “However, it is not acceptable in our house that you just leave in the middle of dinner. Nor arrive dressed in rags. You should know that Malfoys dress up for dinner.”

“Yes, it was different in my…family,” usually I wasn’t allowed at the table and sometimes I wasn’t allowed to eat at all... Do they really want me at their table here that much or are they trying to humiliate me? But why would Lucius do that? He married me. He should want to have me around… Probably his table manners were not the best, but he had no idea what to do. But Harry couldn’t say that aloud.

“It seems that your family has different understanding of propriety than decent wizards’ families. Do you remember when I said that Malfoys are required to act according to certain standards? These were not included in the marriage contract, because I conceded in this point. However I didn’t think that The-Boy-Who-Lived will not be able to meet so simple requirements.”

Don’t call me that! I am Harry, a person! A human being! Boy clenched his small hands in fists.

“And in addition your appearance at the dinner is clearly stating that you respect neither me, nor this house. I am really disappointed,” Malfoy patriarch finished.

It’s happening again. Harry was horrified with sudden realization. It will never change, my life will never change. It will always be the same and I hoped that… He wasn’t sure what he had hoped for.
It will be the same as with Dursleys. Yeah, I think I just wanted it will be different as with Dursleys. I have always been too naïve. It’s my own fault. Why would anything be different? The-Boy-Who-Lived was wanted in this house, The Hero of wizarding world was wanted in this house. His baby was wanted. But not Harry. Not just Harry. Harry was never wanted. He was no one, nothing. Maybe he could be accepted if he gave them what they wanted…The Perfect spouse, the Hero, The-Boy-Who-Lived? Harry would never be good enough for Dursleys, they would never stop hating him, but maybe Lucius was different. Maybe he could change for his husband and be accepted.

“I am sorry Mr. Malfoy I will try not to disappoint you in future.”

“You can call me Lucius,” older man’s expression softened.

“As you wish…Lucius.”

“Yes that’s right, I am your husband after all,” then Lucius leaned down and brushed some wayward strands of hair from his petite husband’s forehead. “Maybe I am being too harsh with you.” Lucius’s thumb caressed the infamous lightning bolt. “I want this to work. I hope I am not asking too much?”

Harry shook his head mesmerized by his handsome husband’s touch. Even if the boy had had some doubts before, now he knew that he was ready to do everything for this man.

Harry was graced with a small smile: “You should rest now, you must be tired, it was a busy day.”

“Yes, Lucius.”

Then happened something unexpected. Lucius and leaned down and kissed his new husband on his forehead, gently touching Harry’s swollen belly with his other hand.

That was…heaven. It was nice to be touched and kissed on the forehead. No one ever kissed him. Hermione and Ron sometimes hugged him, but it was nothing like this. His family, never. Dursleys wouldn’t touch him, not to mention touching in a caring way.

“Goodnight. I am pleased that you are ready to learn how to act accordingly,” Lucius’s voice could be so warm and calming when he wanted.

“Goodnight.”

Yes, uncle Vernon, no, uncle Vernon, yes, professor Snape, no, professor Snape, yes, headmaster, no, headmaster…Yes, Lucius, no, Lucius…No! Stop! It was different this time! Lucius was different.

Harry couldn’t sleep. Frantic thoughts were intruding his mind, not allowing him rest. Harry wished he could just shut his mind down.

I am stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Why am I getting so nervous around him? Am I attracted to Lucius Malfoy? No, it is not possible. Or it shouldn’t be possible… He is older than me. He is a Slytherin. He is evil. He is Draco’s father. He’s been a Death Eater for longer than I have lived. He is an insufferable snob. Sirius hates him. My friends hate him.

But we are married. He is my husband. We had sex. We are going to have a baby together. He is rather attractive. He has nice hair and he smells good. He is a good kisser. He is not going to work for Voldemort anymore. He is rather smart. He has warm hands. He is…

Oh, Merlin, help me…whoever he is I want him to like me. I want to be good for him. I will try to listen to him and be who he wants me to be. Maybe then he will like me. He kissed me after all, maybe it means, that I have a chance?

No, no, no…I can’t expect him falling in love with me. He is so handsome and aristocratic, he knows how to act. We are completely opposite. He is a Slytherin, I am a Gryffindor. I am nothing. No one. I am just a stupid boy who he had to marry to give his baby a real family.

I hope he doesn’t hate me for that. I couldn’t help myself. I am who I am. I guess I can’t escape from all those things happening to me. I would like to be a good husband for Lucius. It is my entire fault. I am always doing those stupid things …But he said that he is happy that I am ready to learn, to improve, to be better for him. Maybe I could get him to like me and maybe I could get even Draco to accept me.

Harry toned out the depressing thoughts. He knew that if he was good and did what his husband asked he had a chance to have a real family for once. He was not going to ruin it.

I promise, Lucius. I will try harder.

***

When Harry woke up he was still feeling tired. Otherwise he was not happy, not sad, not anything at all. He really didn’t know what exactly he was feeling.

Harry was relieved that he was able to have breakfast in his room and he didn’t have to meet any Malfoy first thing in the morning. After a shower some nameless house elf popped up informing Harry that ‘Master Malfoy’ wanted to meet ‘Master Malfoy’. That was when the boy started getting nervous.

Harry knocked on the door and an impassive voice allowed him to enter. Lucius Malfoy had a quill in his hand and was working on some parchment. It appeared as if he hadn’t noticed Harry who was fidgeting in front of his imposing mahagony work desk, not knowing what to do or where to look.

“You can sit down,” the boy was finally noticed. “I hope you had some time to think, after we talked yesterday” Lucius stated looking at his husband sternly evidently ignoring the fact that he was the one who did all the talking. He was making a point. Harry could see that. He nodded.

“Good. Then there are things we need to discuss,” the blonde went on. “First, the obvious which is your appearance.”

Harry looked at himself. He has wearing a pair of jeans which were slightly worn, but fitted him almost perfectly. Those were Ron’s old jeans which were too short for his taller best friend now. And the sweater he was wearing was almost new! It was a present from Hermione. It was orange and had a hood. Of course his sneakers were kind of old and dirty, but those were just shoes. No, Harry didn’t get it. He had no idea what was so wrong with his clothes.

“Are those muggle clothes?” Lucius inquired and Harry just nodded. “They are disgusting,” Lucius stated and Harry felt a pang of disappointment. He was disgusting…

“One of the house elves will take your measurements and I will order new clothes from ‘Monsieur Couture’for you. And you will wear them. Is that clear?”

“Yes,” why wouldn’t he wear those clothes? They were just clothes after all. Harry wanted to please his husband after all.

“That is settled then. And another issue. Your manners. Yesterday at dinner you displayed a lack of them. It is obvious that your muggle upbringing is showing. Malfoys are one of the best pureblood families in wizarding Britain…” and Lucius Malfoy went on, naming numerous things Malfoys did and didn’t. Harry tried to remember as much as he could. He was feeling as if he was five years old child, not a married man.

Then Malfoy changed the topic and started berating Harry for his poor grades, especially in Potions. They had to be improved.

With each moment Harry was sinking lower in his seat. He was so embarrassed. He was not good enough. He was nothing. He was no one.

In the end of his speech Lucius handed Harry a pile of books he should read and the boy was dismissed.

Harry walked back to his room; because honestly he had no idea where else he could go. Besides he was ordered to read as much of the books he could. There was a potions manual, a guide on good manners for young purebloods, a book on proper conduct at social events in wizarding world, a history of pureblood families in Great Britain and some other heavy volumes. The boy had no idea where to start, but he had to start somewhere, because his older husband had promised to stop by to discuss what he had red before dinner.

***

Meanwhile Lucius was dealing with his own problem. He had started getting invitations to parties held in respectable pureblood families’ households all over wizarding Europe. Of course nothing was as it appeared.

Actually all those invitations meant that those pureblood families were aware that Lucius Malfoy was a widower now and thus he was also available to marry off one of their sisters or daughters. Lucius knew how the way those people were thinking. Malfoys were one of the oldest and richest families in Britain, besides he was not a teenager anymore and that meant even older ‘brides’ (read spinsters) had a chance.

Right now Lucius was writing polite refusals and ‘incendoing’ the invitations. Actually he realized how lucky he was to have Harry Potter. Of course e could find a bride from a family which was more prominent and a bride, who had better breeding, but… he was not going to deal with those vultures and one marriage of convenience was enough. He realized that he could not imagine anyone else as his rightful spouse, but Harry. He had not been completely honest to himself. He had a perfect excuse to marry The-Boy-Who-Lived. Harry was pregnant, but that was just an excuse. In fact he was crazy about that boy.

Lucius wished he could just go upstairs, walk in Harry’s bedroom and have his wicked way with the green-eyed minx. The one who was teasing him with his sole existence. He wanted to taste and smell the boy again, press him into mattress and take him. Or he could let the boy ride him as he did on their first night lifting him to unbelievable heights.

“Damn,” Lucius groaned. Now he was getting a problem. Was he some randy teenager who got hard just thinking about another man!

The problem was that he didn’t know for sure if his advances were welcomed by his young husband. Lucius didn’t want to scare off the boy who was still young and inexperienced.

***

** A couple of days later **

***

Lucius Malfoy was pleased with himself. His new spouse was slowly turning into a proper Malfoy. He still had a lot of work to do and Harry had a lot to learn, but the boy was obviously cooperating, submitting to him. Harry was his. He belonged to Lucius. Some effort and Harry Potter was going to turn into Harry Malfoy. A proper spouse for a pure blood wizard. Even if he technically was a half-blood.
More than everything Lucius was enjoying the time they spent together. He could watch his young husband and talk to him. Discussing the books was a good excuse. Besides Harry was concentrating on answering Lucius’s questions and didn’t notice how the man was looking at him.

Draco was mostly ignoring the other boy which was nothing surprising. Even if slightly unusual. At least there was no screaming, no yelling, and no crying. Not bad. Could be worse, knowing their history. The rivalry between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy was infamous. Who would have guessed that they would be forced to become a family? Lucius had decided to be patient with boys. Give them time to get used to each other.

However Lucius had no idea what exactly his husband was feeling. Harry was trying very hard to do everything he was asked. He was wearing all the fancy clothes he got now and even dressing up for the dinner every time. Of course he would have preferred a T-shirt and some loose sweatpants, because they were more comfortable especially considering his round middle section, but he was sure, that he would get used to everything…Harry was reading history of pure blood families in Great Britain which Lucius gave him and trying to remember…

Was he succeeding? Did this life made his husband think of him better? Because he didn’t feel well. He was sad and lonely and he felt trapped and despised. He didn’t understand things he was doing, the way he was acting and what he was reading.

Draco Malfoy didn’t even insult him anymore. He was ignored completely and that didn’t make the boy feel any better. It was as if he didn’t exist. Insults from Malfoy were one of constants in his life. One of the things which defined him as a person. That was how he knew that there was someone spoiled and wretched and if that certain person went out of his way to insult him, which meant he was doing the right thing.

Harry was also bored out of his mind. He was spending most of his time in his room with one of the books he was ordered to read by his older spouse. Those books were boring as hell. But Harry wanted to please Lucius. Maybe that would make the man like him more. Until now he didn’t really get to spend much time with the man. Not at all. Lucius visited him only at times when he wanted to know how Harry’s reading was going. But it was so impersonal and coldness was radiating from him… Harry didn’t know who he was anymore, he was so confused, but he just wanted something more…a touch or a kind word…but the man hardly looked at him!

He was trying really hard, but he couldn’t get rid of the feeling. He was still lonely, depressed and miserable.

***

On the Christmas morning Harry woke up early. It was Christmas after all! Then he called Chirpy who was quite decent house elf, maybe only too uptight, but that was nothing uncommon for house elf population in general. Harry wanted to know if the Malfoys were going to unwrap Christmas presents anytime soon. When he was at school he usually was up early in the morning, because he wanted to unwrap the presents. But Chirpy informed the boy that Malfoys were gong unwrap the presents half an hour before their special Christmas breakfast. It was obvious that Malfoys didn’t act that way. And presents were not so special for people who got everything they wanted.

Fine. Harry could wait. He was going to take a long shower, dress properly and try to tame his unruly hair.

***

Harry walked down the stairs half an hour before ten. He noticed that the Manor was lavishly decorated. Nothing here was hand made or cheap.

The Christmas tree was large and decorated with an excellent taste. The decorations matched the curtains, the curtains matched the carpets, and the carpets matched the furniture and so on. Everything matched everything. A perfect house for a perfect family. Harry could see why he had to be perfect to fit in, but could he?

Harry wondered if even Malfoy’s house elves had an excellent taste? He just couldn’t forget Dobby and his outfits which were just awful.

“Good morning, Harry, merry Christmas,” the older blonde greeted. His expression was kind, but Harry wished the man smiled a real smile at least once in a while. Draco Malfoy even didn’t look his direction.

“Merry, Christmas,” Harry answered.

The presents were arranged in three neat piles.

Harry got the usual. There were some sweets from Ginny including dragon-shaped marshmallows which the boy actually craved right now. Good timing, Gin! There was a book from Hermione on magical baby care. Of course! From Ron Harry got a figurine of Bartley Quicksilver who was one of top Quiditch players at the moment. It was flying a couple of inches above the ground and waving. Kind of cool! Harry also got a mug from Luna which was supposed to start singing when hot chocolate reached the right temperature to drink safely. Seamus, Neville and Dean Thomas had sent him a red scarf with a picture of reindeer. Maybe those presents were nothing much, but they meant a world to Harry, because they were from people who loved him.

Then Harry unwrapped the package which contained a traditional Weasley sweater.

“What is that Harry?” Lucius inquired frowning at the offending sight of the bright red sweater with a large ‘H’ on the front of it.

“It is a Weasley sweater. They think I am a member of family, so they send me one every year,” Harry explained blushing. “Mrs. Weasley knits them herself.”

“Yes, it looks like Weasleys. No class and no style. Don’t you think you are associating with those people too much? Now you belong to other society and you have your own family. You don’t need Weasleys,” Lucius noted matter-of-factly.

Harry’s heart sank. His husband was telling him that his best friend and his foster family were not good enough for him…He didn’t know what to answer. Weasleys were his family…

“Don’t worry about it now,” Lucius let this topic go for now, feeling his husband’s discomfort. “You have more presents to unwrap.”

Yes, he really had more presents. There was a magical Monopoly from Sirius and Remus, Harry assumed that it should be something very cool; he couldn’t wait to play it with Ron.

And then there were presents from Harry’s husband. Harry couldn’t believe that it all was for him. For Merlin’s sake! There were a pile of parcels just for Harry alone. Several books on different topics, a couple of sweaters made of some extremely soft material which was unfamiliar to Harry. He got also a dark blue velvet robe (as if he already didn’t have a lot of clothes). Then there was a really fancy clip for his cloak decorated with some shiny gems, golden watch which announced what was the correct time when someone asked, a set of exclusive toiletry. And that was maybe a half of it… Being showered with gifts made Harry uncomfortable. What was he going to do with all this stuff?

***

The Christmas breakfast was no different from their usual dinner at seven. Except Draco was commenting on is Christmas presents from his so called ‘friends’. Crabbe and Goyle were to dimwitted to come up with anything slightly creative. Blaise Zabini’s gift was cheap. Theodore Nott was obviously trying to suck up.

Only after Draco hinted that Pansy Parkinson was still trying to get in his pants, Lucius pointed that the table was not the place for conversations like that and the Malfoy junior shut up.

After that they were sitting in uncomfortable silence.

***

Later in the evening Harry walked down the stairs. It was five minutes before seven. Harry didn’t want to be late. He could not be late for Christmas dinner; he didn’t want to disappoint Lucius.

Harry was surprised when he entered the dinning room. The light was dim. There were white candles floating above the dinning table. There were only two sets of plates set out. This looked like some kind of romantic dinner…

“Good evening,” Harry greeted. He had noticed that his husband was pleased when he was quiet and polite so he tried to do his best.

“Good evening. There will be only two of us tonight, if you are wondering,” Lucius explained. “Draco is spending the night at his friend’s house.”

So this really was kind of romantic dinner. That made Harry uneasy. It was still hard to accept that the aristocratic blonde was his husband. The man was too much and sometimes Harry had to wonder if he was even real. It was a lot stranger when they were alone in the room.

Both men started eating. The meal was delicious as always. Malfoys’ house elves were good cooks, even if Harry mostly didn’t have an idea what exactly was on his plate, it tasted good. He was embarrassed to ask what he was eating, because he was afraid that Lucius already didn’t think much of him.

When the meal was finished Lucius put down his napkin and looked his younger husband straight in the eyes: “Would you mind to share a glass of vine with me? Or that will be some juice for you.”

There was something strange in older man’s eyes. Harry had noticed that sometimes Lucius got that look when the man was looking at him. It made him shiver, but in the pleasant way. Lucius wouldn’t hurt him, right?

“Yes, of course,” Harry accepted.

Lucius smirked. It was not fair, but he loved watching the younger man squirm, it was adorable, even if it meant that the boy was confused or uncomfortable. Lucius stood up and gave Harry a hand, helping him. Harry smiled weakly. He was getting exited, he had a feeling that something special was about to happen.

“Come here,” Lucius didn’t let go of the youth’s hand. Instead he pulled the boy closer ad swept him up in his arms in the bridal style. Harry gasped. This was unexpected, but pleasant.

“Don’t worry, I won’t drop you,” the older man was still smirking and he had a predatory gleam in his eyes. Was it possible that a single look from his husband made Harry hard? That was so embarrassing.

Lucius noticed that his young husband’s breath caught and he didn’t mind at all when Harry buried nose in his robe probably hiding one of those adorable blushes which adorned the boys face once in a while.

Harry knew that he was safe in his husbands arms with his hands wrapped around the strong neck. It was a great feeling to feel someone stronger taking care of him. He inhaled his husbands scent. It was always the same. Harry had learnt to love it even if he couldn’t place it. Lucius smelled as someone who was manly and strong and right.

Lucius put the boy on his bed. Harry didn’t stay in sitting position; on the contrary he lied down on the bed stretching lazily. The gesture was natural and innocent. Probably the boy hadn’t meant anything by that, he just wanted to get more comfortable. However Lucius was seduced. Harry’s skin was radiating in the dim light. Then the boy licked his lips. Was the nymph doing it on purpose? Lucius completely forgot about the vine.

Harry closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, Lucius was leaning over him. Man’s blond, long hair was caressing his cheek and he was looking at Harry as if he was not a mere human, but a treasure, something very dear and special. Harry could see the man’s passion for him radiating from usually cold eyes. The steal had turned into quicksilver.

“Can I kiss you Harry,” the man asked running tongue along his own hungry lips, preparing them for what he was about to do.

“Please,” Harry reached up entwining arms around his husband’s neck and pulling the man down on him.


TBC

AN: I hope you are enjoying the story. Thank you for the rewievs, they really make me happy and i wait and treasure each of them. Thanks.

Keep reading. Two more chapters to go.