FTtSoL 05
Title: Faster Than the Speed of Love
Author: Feygan
Fandom: Harry Potter
It felt strange to Draco to wake up so refreshed. It seemed as though
he'd been carrying invisible weights forever. Every time he turned
around, his emotional burden would get heavier until finally he barely
felt safe to breathe.
Sleeping on that luxurious bed in Potter Manor had allowed him to rest
without dreaming. He felt safe with the knowledge that Charlus was
nearby.
He gave the house elf that had wakened him a brisk nod and climbed out
of bed. He walked to the bathroom to relieve himself and to straighten
out his appearance.
There was a jolt of shock when he saw himself in the mirror until he
remembered that his appearance had been changed. He had the
phenomenal, inhuman beauty of a veela now. His hair was more lustrous,
his eyes seeming larger and somehow mesmerizing, and his skin had a
faint sheen to it.
He wasn't human anymore and it was something he would just have to get
used to. As soon as he stopped flinching away from his own reflection.
"Stop being a coward," he ordered himself before stripping off his
clothes and stepping into the large mosaic tiled shower. The water
started itself, magically tuned to the perfect temperature.
He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the spray.
His world had been changed. He would deal with it.
When Charlus came for him, Draco was dressed and waiting. He may have
been wearing borrowed robes, but with a few spells he'd learned from
his fashion conscious mother, he looked as though he'd been fitted by
a proper tailor. From the lingering look Charlus gave him, he knew
he'd done a more than acceptable job.
"If you'll come with me, I will take you to dinner." Charlus held out
his hand, his expression almost painfully sincere. Draco could see
that he meant to take their relationship seriously.
It allowed some nervous part of him to relax and he was able to reach
out and take Charlus'. There was a spark of awareness that jumped
between their fingers and he couldn't help a faint laugh.
Charlus'expression was soft. "Come. You must be starving."
"Only a little," Draco said. He followed after Charlus down the
winding staircase to the dining room.
He did pull Charlus to a halt outside the door. "Is anyone going to
join us?" He dreaded the thought of people all around him, but he knew
he'd be able fake it if he had some warning.
Charlus looked surprised for a second, then painfully understanding.
Draco didn't think he could handle any kind of pity. Not now and
perhaps never.
"It's just the two of us tonight," Charlus said. And that was all.
Draco followed him into the dining room where only two place settings
were waiting. There was no sign of anyone else, only the house elf in
the crisp Potter uniform jacket standing by.
Draco was able to breathe again. Though he couldn't help a little
self-recrimination for his weakness, he forced all that away.
He needed to be pleasant company for Charlus. He wouldn't allow
himself to be anything else.
Author: Feygan
Fandom: Harry Potter
It felt strange to Draco to wake up so refreshed. It seemed as though
he'd been carrying invisible weights forever. Every time he turned
around, his emotional burden would get heavier until finally he barely
felt safe to breathe.
Sleeping on that luxurious bed in Potter Manor had allowed him to rest
without dreaming. He felt safe with the knowledge that Charlus was
nearby.
He gave the house elf that had wakened him a brisk nod and climbed out
of bed. He walked to the bathroom to relieve himself and to straighten
out his appearance.
There was a jolt of shock when he saw himself in the mirror until he
remembered that his appearance had been changed. He had the
phenomenal, inhuman beauty of a veela now. His hair was more lustrous,
his eyes seeming larger and somehow mesmerizing, and his skin had a
faint sheen to it.
He wasn't human anymore and it was something he would just have to get
used to. As soon as he stopped flinching away from his own reflection.
"Stop being a coward," he ordered himself before stripping off his
clothes and stepping into the large mosaic tiled shower. The water
started itself, magically tuned to the perfect temperature.
He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the spray.
His world had been changed. He would deal with it.
When Charlus came for him, Draco was dressed and waiting. He may have
been wearing borrowed robes, but with a few spells he'd learned from
his fashion conscious mother, he looked as though he'd been fitted by
a proper tailor. From the lingering look Charlus gave him, he knew
he'd done a more than acceptable job.
"If you'll come with me, I will take you to dinner." Charlus held out
his hand, his expression almost painfully sincere. Draco could see
that he meant to take their relationship seriously.
It allowed some nervous part of him to relax and he was able to reach
out and take Charlus'. There was a spark of awareness that jumped
between their fingers and he couldn't help a faint laugh.
Charlus'expression was soft. "Come. You must be starving."
"Only a little," Draco said. He followed after Charlus down the
winding staircase to the dining room.
He did pull Charlus to a halt outside the door. "Is anyone going to
join us?" He dreaded the thought of people all around him, but he knew
he'd be able fake it if he had some warning.
Charlus looked surprised for a second, then painfully understanding.
Draco didn't think he could handle any kind of pity. Not now and
perhaps never.
"It's just the two of us tonight," Charlus said. And that was all.
Draco followed him into the dining room where only two place settings
were waiting. There was no sign of anyone else, only the house elf in
the crisp Potter uniform jacket standing by.
Draco was able to breathe again. Though he couldn't help a little
self-recrimination for his weakness, he forced all that away.
He needed to be pleasant company for Charlus. He wouldn't allow
himself to be anything else.