A Gilded Cage

Harry stood outside Malfoy manor, Draco had inherited the manor when his father had died, but it stood the same as it had in those days. It was an imposing figure against the hills and acres of land. It also seemed to have it’s own lake farther out from the castle. The darkness that had surrounded it was gone now, replaced by a lighter air. It was an almost calming scene.

Harry couldn’t believe he was going to be spending the remainder of this election at the manor of his one time enemy. He could only shake his head with a smile. If someone would have told him at 17 he would be protecting Draco Malfoy and his children he would have had them admitted to St. Mungos. And yet here he was hesitating at the door with a small duffle bag of clothes hanging from his shoulder. Ah, the life of Harry Potter only seemed to get odder and odder.

With a final breath Harry knocked and only had to wait a moment before the door opened and a house elf greeted him,
“Mr. Potter sir, master be waiting for you.” the old elf bowed and then turned leading the gawking man through the manor.

Pansy watched from the upper levels until Harry disappeared through a side hallway that led to her husbands study. She had, at first been angry that Draco would bring that bastard into their home without consulting her. But now she found it to be a perfect opportunity. With Potter in her home she can kill two birds with one stone, or so the saying goes. She couldn’t help but smile as she retreated to another room to write the good news to Blaise.

Draco stood taking Harry’s hand,
“I really do appreciate you coming Harry. Maria’s felt better ever since you agreed to come stay.” Harry rolled his eyes,

“More like was tricked into staying. You sneaky Slytherin you.” Draco chuckled and sat back behind his desk signing a few papers as he spoke to Harry,

“As soon as i finish this bit of paperwork, I’ll show you to your room. I think it should suit you.” he said smirking. Harry was slightly worried by that smirk but simply nodded. An hour later Draco was standing up to lead Harry from his study. Maria and Scorpius stood outside his door waiting patiently for the two adults. Maria instantly latched onto Harry,

“Hawe!” she squealed and he pulled her up into his arms. He smiled and followed Draco while keeping a conversation with the four year old. He barely noticed all the turns they made and Harry remembered to ask for some sort of map later.

Harry was becoming tired by the time they reached the large red oak doors that would lead them into his temporary room. His jaw nearly dropped as the doors swung open. He was expecting Slytherin decorations, and while there was some green it was nothing close to what he thought. Earth tone colors covered the room, soft greens and heavy browns and blacks. The room itself was as large as Harry’s flat in London, and was dominated by a large bed. Harry would look like a child in that bed.

Draco watched Harry approach the bed, and a sudden image entered his mind and seemed to carry him away.
Harry half naked stretched out seductively in the center of that bed. His chest was gleaming with sweat, and his hand slid slowly down his own body. Harry’s green eyes intensified by the colors around him. He would moan once, and arch his back off the bed. His eyes would close for only a second, before opening and training on Draco who stood like a statue in the doorway. Draco could feel his breathing picking up as the dream self stepped closer to the other man, Harry speaking his name quietly,
“Draco…” he could only bite back a groan. A hand on his shoulder made him snap back into reality,

“Draco? You ok?” Harry asked worriedly. Draco couldn’t stop his heart from picking up speed and pounding harder and harder in his chest,

“Yes... Harry I’m fine.” he said finally, in a quiet voice. Glad now, more than ever, that he had not yet removed his robes. Harry nodded, though he didn’t looked thoroughly convinced. He turned again and gently placed Maria to the floor. The girl whined about having to walk, but instantly silenced when Pansy’s voice drifted over them,

“I.. hope the accommodations are to your liking Mr. Potter.” The sarcasm was obvious but Harry simply turned and bowed,

“Perfect Mrs. Malfoy. You look lovely today.” Harry said, just as much sarcasm in his voice. Pansy narrowed her eyes and Draco groaned (for a whole other reason this time) and shook his head,

“Harry…” he cautioned as the lady of the house wasn’t very kind and if Harry took that challenge these few weeks would be hell,

“Do remember your not welcome here in my eyes Mr. Potter.” she hissed and Harry continued to smile,

“I assure you Mrs. Malfoy, I would rather drink poison then be in your presence longer than I have to.” With those words the challenge was set. Pansy offered Harry an odd smile before turning and retreating. Harry, feeling as if he won smirked at Draco who merely shook his head once again,

“Congratulations Harry. You now hold a record. You’ve angered the mistress of Malfoy manor faster than anyone else has ever managed.” Harry laughed,

“Does that mean I get a point?” he asked and Draco just shook his head. Maria looked between her father and Harry before Scorpius took her hand and took her out to play in the Malfoy gardens.


Draco was leading Harry through the mansion a few hours later, because Harry simply wanted to see the mansion. Harry looked around curiously, occasionally bumping into Draco who was going crazy. Every accidental touch sent small shock waves down his spine. He finally stopped halfway down one hall and Harry kept walking. Draco was trying to get his breathing under control when his fathers voice reached his hazed brain,

“Potter?! What are you doing in my home?!” the portrait demanded of a startled Harry,

“So you’re here too huh? Note to self avoid this hallway.” he said crossing his arms as Draco came up beside him,

“Be quiet father.” Draco snapped and Lucius eyes darted to his son,

“You disgrace! Letting that half blood into my home! I knew you would betray me in the end! Sleeping with that-” Draco cast a silencing charm on the portrait and Lucius mouth continued to curse Draco, who was a deep red by this time. Harry was watching him curiously,

“Sleeping with.. Who?” Harry asked, “I thought he’d picked Pansy…” Draco stared at Harry wondering exactly how he had managed to kill Voldemort. He couldn’t tell if the other man was really that dumb, or if he had just simply not understood the context,

“Harry…” he started then shook his head, “Never mind… It’s about time for lunch. Shall we?” he gestured back down the hall and Harry nodded following him.


Lunch was a tense affair, Pansy sat straight-backed acting as if Harry didn’t exist. Harry had yet again drawn her anger, but not by any fault of Harry’s. Pansy, Maria and Scorpius had already been in the dining room, when Draco and Harry had walked in. Maria had instantly abandoned her mothers fawning to run to Harry, who pulled her up into his arms with a smile. That did not sit well with the Malfoy matriarch.

Harry was watching the woman while keeping conversation with Draco. He knew that if he took his eyes off the woman for too long he would regret it. And that’s how the rest of the day went. Harry avoiding the woman and Draco trying to keep the peace when Pansy felt the need to blame something on Harry. By the time Harry collapsed in bed he felt like he’d run a marathon. Now he remembered what fighting Voldemort had been like. It was almost like watching tennis. It was boring and hurt his neck by the time it was over.#

The moon came through the balcony doors and Harry for the first time all day felt at ease. But of course Harry Potter could never be at ease, without something ruining it all. He had just fallen into a light sleep when he snapped back to attention. He thought he had heard a noise. He rolled out of bed wand in his hand. His hair was tousled and he was dressed in only a pair of silk blue boxers. He blinked in confusion as Draco who stood in the middle of the room. He was bent over picking up something, but had froze in place,

“Draco..?” Harry muttered dropping his wand and rubbing his eyes with his free hand. Draco simply stared for a long moment, swallowing hard,

“Maria… dropped…” he stood showing Harry the small hair barrette,

“She… wouldn’t sleep until I found it.” he explained getting himself back under control. Though it was harder than it seemed. Before he’d been assigned this mission by his daughter, Draco had been drinking. He swayed slightly and Harry instantly came to his side,

“Draco, are you ok?” he asked making the other man sit down on the edge of the bed. Again Draco’s breathing became heavy and he grabbed Harry’s arm. Harry shifted but didn’t sit down beside the other man, even as Draco tugged on his arm,

“Harry? I’m sorry.” he began, after letting go of his arm, “This was a horrible idea. I’d hoped Pansy would be more gracious about this. You are protecting our children.” he muttered, his tongue was moving more freely now that he an imbibed too much alcohol,

“I don’t understand her at all. I never wanted to marry her. She was too much like my mother. Did things for the sake of being invited to parties. To be socially perfect. We were never a ‘happy’ family. As long as I didn’t hurt our social standing she didn’t care. None of this was what I wanted. I didn’t like…” he paused to put his head between his knees to fight off a wave of nausea.

Harry sat down beside him and rubbed his back until the man sat back up,

“Feel better?” he asked and Draco shook his head,

“I feel worse.” he muttered, “I’m Sorry Harry I’m.. off to bed now.” Draco stood easily enough and made it half way to the door before he started to fall. Harry was on his feet in an instant and running that short distance to catch the man and set him right again. But of course that’s not how it happened. Harry had barely touched him when Harry himself tripped and fell into Draco. He turned them so he wouldn’t fall on the drunk Draco, but unfortunately that meant dead weight fell onto him. He grunted and Draco groaned and sat up slightly. His lower body still pinned Harry’s, who shifted slightly a blush painting over his cheeks,

“Umm Draco? Are you going to get up..?” he asked carefully, surprised when Draco simply laid back down curling up on top of Harry. He stared at the mop of blonde hair laying on his chest. His breathing was even and Harry knew then that Draco had fallen asleep. He shifted to try and grab his wand, to move Draco.

He had just about stretched his fingers around his wand when a bright flash went through the room. Harry froze eyes wide. This was not going to go well. Someone had just taken a picture of Draco Malfoy laying atop Harry Potter. He snatched his wand and cast a spell to levitate the passed out body to his own bed. For a moment he stared at Draco then turned to head into the bathroom. But one word uttered stopped him in his tracks eyes wide,

“Harry…” the drunken man muttered in his drink induced slumber.


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So there it is. End of Chapter five... it's not what I wanted exactly... but I had a religion paper due on Monday... and being as I am I waited until the last moment. So, I didn't really have time to work on this over the weekend. I hope it turned out alright. Please review. I want to know what you think. Cause at this moment...>.> i'm worried about it. So yea please review.
And to the people who loved me, I mean the story enough to review:

thrnbrooke: So here are the answers your looking for. Yes Pansy and Blaise. I thought it added a bit something ^-^. She wants to kill Draco and Scorpius for... well greedy woman reasons. Kill Draco, Scorpius gets everything as the oldest heir. And Pansy (in my story) wanted a girl. So Maria is more important to her than the boy she didn't want. So, kill Scorpius and Maria inherits. So not only does Maria become the benefactor, until shes of age Pansy has control of the money. If she simply left Draco then she would get nothing. I'm sure the Malfoys would have some sort of prenup or something. At least thats what I think. ^-^

paigeey07: Glad you like it. ^-^ please have a s'more and review more ^-^

REVIEW!!!