A Dark Time For The Light

80

It was a Saturday morning and Harry stood in front of the bathroom mirror, fretting. “Sometimes, having permanent bed-hair is a pain in the arse”. Harry was trying to call some sort of order to his hair and was failing dismally. Draco came up behind him and threaded his arms around Harry’s middle, “Stop panicking. You look and smell edible. Just be your sweet sexy self, love, and she’ll love you to bits”.

Harry squawked, “Draco, I can’t be ‘sexy’ or ‘edible’, this is your mum I’m meeting, for fuck’s sake”. Draco held tighter sinking his face in Harry’s neck and inhaling, “Stop it. If you’re nervous, think of how Mother’s feeling. There’s probably a very good reason she hasn’t contacted the cadre and it probably has a lot to do with her previous associations, ex-wife of Death-Eater won’t sit well in some circles, a sort of ‘damned-if-you-are, damned-if-you-aren’t situation. I remember how terrified I was as I stepped into the Bunker for the first time. I was afraid of being hexed every which way from Friday or at least getting a beating up from Ron or someone”.

Harry turned slowly in Draco’s arms and wound his own around his lover’s neck, “I hadn’t thought about it like that”, he sighed. He gave up on the hair. Draco saw the worried look in Harry’s face, “What is it, Harry?”. Harry sank his head on Draco’s shoulder, “Will she think I’m good enough for you? I mean, I’m hardly the saviour of the Wizarding world. I’m just Harry Porter, jobbing painter and decorator and mums can be a bit scary like that”. Draco held him, “You big silly, she’ll love you, trust me, and she’s always trusted my judgement. Anyway, where does the ‘Porter’ thing come from?”. Harry grinned and relaxed, “It was a clerical cock-up when my National Insurance number was allocated when I turned sixteen. I never bothered to change it and it has probably helped my cover. In Manchester, I was Jim Porter for nearly two years”

Following her directions, they made their way across London on the scooter and found themselves on the St John’s Wood/Primrose Hill border outside a large detached villa behind an impressive set of wrought iron gates. They parked the bike in the street and Harry locked it up. Hand in hand, they walked up the path. The door was flung wide and the most beautiful woman Harry had ever seen was standing on the top step.

With a light step, amidst fluttering silk she ran down to meet them, then Draco dropped Harry’s hand and ran towards her and they caught each other in a hug, Draco’s smile wide and his eyes squeezed shut. She parted them slightly and held her son at arm’s length her eyes flicking up and down, “You look well, very well”. They embraced again, “You look happy, Mutti”. Harry stood a little awkwardly to one side. Mother and son broke apart and she offered him her hand. He took it and she drew him into a loose embrace, “I’m glad to finally meet you, Harry. Have no fear of me, please, I am on your side now. Welcome to our humble abode”.

In fact, it was anything but. A wide porticoed porch at the top of a tall flight of steps led them into a graciously proportioned hall. “We only have the ground floor, the staircase lies behind that wall”, she waved an airy hand, “But we have exclusive use of the rear garden. Come through, there’s someone I would like you both to meet”. They were led along the hall and Harry had a glimpse into tall rooms as they passed. They went into a huge kitchen and through elegant french windows to a wide terrace that ran the length of the rear of the house. There was an elegant wrought iron dining table being laid for lunch by a woman who had her back to them. She turned as they approached.

“Jenny”, exclaimed Draco and ran into her arms. Harry shyly proffered the bouquet he’d dug out of the backbox, “These are for you, Mrs Malfoy”. She gracefully accepted them, “These are beautiful, Harry, and please, it’s Cissie. Mmm, roses, my favourites”. As she took the flowers, she noticed the ring, but said nothing. “Harry”, she tugged gently at his hand, “Allow me to introduce you to Jenny, my partner. Jenny, this is Harry, my son’s future intended”. Harry and Draco shared a startled glance and she laughed, “Draco, why else would Harry be wearing my Mother’s ring on that finger?”

The two women went back into the house to bring out the food. The boys offered to help but were rebuffed. Draco said in a low voice, “Jenny, eh? What a turn-up. Mutti was at school with her, Jenny was a Ravenclaw and it was a bit of a ‘forbidden’ friendship, then when I was born, Jenny was my nanny for a few years but was treated as a member of the family which means the family consisted of her and Mutti and my Father ignored us all. I had no idea that they had this kind of a relationship. She looks bloody happy though”. Harry grinned at him, “You know, you may have his looks and colouring but you have your mum’s grace and smile”.

“Why, thank you Harry”, Cissie smiled as she laid a bowl with the roses in the centre of the table and winked as Harry looked up. They all sat down to a civilised cold luncheon of meats and pates and cheeses with crusty home-made bread and locally produced mustards and pickles, there were bowls af salad leaves and one of hard-boiled eggs, platters of finely sliced cucumber and tomatoes drizzled with a dressing.

The boys were quizzed about their work and their lives and they told entertaining anecdotes without giving too much away. In fact there were numerous topics that they didn’t mention. Bunker 7, Voldemort’s house, or how they’d robbed Gringott’s. They glossed over other people’s tales, too. It wouldn’t do to tell of dope deals, guns and burglaries, though they did say something of Severus and Remus and extended the invitation to the wedding to both of them. Jenny went into the house and emerged with a leather desk diary and made a note of the date. Both would be delighted to attend.

“They haven’t given us much time to prepare. I suppose I can ask Bettina to run me up a little something to wear. Why so fast?”, then Harry explained Remus’ cancer, “I think it’s drawn them closer”, his smile was shy, “Sev’s a changed man, you know”. Cissie grinned, “The man always had an acerbic wit, please don’t say he’s gone soft in the head”. “Mutti, he’s still a worthy verbal duelling partner, but he’s just not as nasty any more. Be gentle with him”, he shot his Mother a glare worthy of a Malfoy. Her high laugh rang out momentarily, then her face softened, “I always thought that he was capable of deep passions; love, too, if he allowed himself to let go. He was always so bottled up. I am very fond of Severus and I’m glad he has love in his life at long last. I look forward to seeing him again, though I wonder how a rather large bill for the ingredients for Wolfsbane Potion came to be charged to your Father’s account?”, she quirked a perfect brow at her son, who reddened.

She continued, “I would also be intrigued to know who raided the Malfoy vault with your key, Draco?. The wards were examined around Diagon Alley and revealed a powerful unknown Witch, neither Death-Eater or known to the light. Apparently her Magic bore a strong Dark signature even though she cast none, it left an impression like an aura on the wards; not a young woman either”. She examined the boys’ faces as she spoke. She could see each of them struggle to hide things from her, though Harry was the braver and snapped what were probably Occlumency shields behind his eyes then returned her gaze with a guileless smile, “I’m sorry to hear about the robbery, that must have been quite a blow”.

She smirked but not maliciously, “Quite the actor, young Mister Potter”, she remarked, then started to laugh. She leaned forward, “I don’t care how you spent it or what you did with it, I only hope it benefitted the side of the Light”. Her son and his lover shared a conspiratorial grin and red faces but said nothing.

Narcissa also shared a look with her lover and moved the conversation with practiced ease to other subjects and asked them about where they lived. “The East End, Draco. Surely with the money I sent, you can do better than that”. Draco shrugged, “The flat’s great. It’s big enough and the landlord only rents to gays. The others all live nearby and we’ve an excellent local pub in our street. The shops and the Tube are all handy. I’m near to work. Okay the neighbourhood isn’t quite like around here, but as we’re above a shop, we can make as much noise as we want after six at night. I like where we are and there’s a van that picks Harry up for work as his colleagues live not far away and we have organised a Guest House for visiting Magicals from the other cadres. It’s good to have friends a walk away, not spread all over London and I’m near to my work”.

Altogether, the boys had a thoroughly pleasant afternoon. After lunch, Jenny dug out the croquet set and thrashed the other three into the ground, at singles. Then they played as two doubles teams, men against women and once again the boys were soundly beaten. They took their leave as the daylight started to wane, Draco agreeing to keep more in touch with his mother now that the ice had been broken between them.

Narcissa expressed delight at finally meeting Harry under pleasant circumstances. As she hugged her son she whispered, “He loves you so much and I sense it is completely returned. Look after each other. In case you or he are worried, I approve whole-heartedly of your union and for what it is worth, give you my blessing. I would very much like to give you away on your wedding day if you would permit me to”.

Draco was nearly in tears, “Mutti, to hear you say that is music to my ears and I revel in your blessings. Thanks Mutti. I love you”. “I love you too, son. Don’t be a stranger. Come and see us again, although I suspect the next time we see each other will be Severus’ wedding. Give him my love, too”. They all hugged and parted.

At the gate, before they put their helmets on, Draco pulled Harry to him for a bone-shaking kiss, all tongues and grasping hands and little moans then pulled away to leave his lover gasping. “Shit, Dragon, how the fuck am I supposed to ride back in this state?”. He adjusted his clothing discreetly. As Draco did the same, he whispered into Harry’s ear, “Carefully”.

Narcissa and Jenny watched them go through the hall window, their arms twined around each other. They watched the kiss. Jenny murmured, “They look so good together, a perfect match”. Narcissa kissed her lover, “You’re right, a perfect match, although these two were enemies up until lower sixth. I don’t know what changed, but I can think of no more suitable partner for my son”.

He’s gone without so much as a goodbye. His father is furious. I watch him fly away, underdressed and unprepared. After dinner I go to his rooms and there is a piece of parchment wafting around the floor in the breeze from the still open window. I close the casement and pick up the letter. It’s not like Draco to leave his things in a mess. The letter bears yesterday’s date and an owl has flown all night to deliver it so early. I don’t recognise the hand but it is strong and assured. The note is short and to the point,

D,

I am missing you so much. I want you. I need you. I.....? you, and I want to fuck you senseless. Strip away your clothes and worship you with my tongue, kiss you everywhere, feel your hot come between our bellies, your hot cock in my mouth, mine in yours. Oh, fuck, this holiday is far too long and we’ve still got another two damn weeks and all I can think about is burying myself in your sweet arse until we both scream, then you turning me and taking me, hard, in the shower. Come back to me, love, come back soon. I miss you and I am,

Truly and completely yours.
Your.
H. xxx

So. A boy then, no mistaking that! I always suspected that my boy may prefer his own gender. I cast about in my mind for an ‘H’ in his own house and come up blank. There’s only one ‘H’ that I can think of and I truly hope that it is he. Only one that is worthy of my beloved son.

Harry Potter.