Harry Potter BIG BANG part 1
Title: Wizards work in mysterious ways (part1)
Author: naturegirlrocks
Rating: R
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Severus/Luna, Lucius/Hermione, Ron/Pansy, George/Gilderoy, Percy/Narcissa
Summary: Harry comes back to Hogwarts for his eighth year, he wants Draco but Lucius is the new DADA teacher, Snape is Headmaster and why is Lockhart back?
For harrypotterbang
Artist: The Wonderful cydciedah who took images from my brain and drew them.
“No, Harry,” said Charlie Weasley and put his strong right fore finger on Harry’s puckered lips. “I would love to kiss you, and Merlin knows I would sleep with you in a heartbeat. But…” he sighed. “But you deserve more…”
Harry sat back on the sofa. He felt confused, but not as hurt as he thought. It had taken all of his courage even to sit down next to Charlie, and that said a lot since Harry had been the only person ever not to flinch when staring into the eyes of Voldemort. He stroked his sweaty palms over his jeans, trying to form words with his non-cooperating mouth.
“I love you,” Charlie sighed and stroked his fingers through Harry’s thick black hair. “But not like that. Harry, you are eighteen years old, you are going back to school. I’m twenty six and I’m going back to Romania as soon as I know mom’s all right…”
“I… I’m…” Harry did not really know what to say. “I don’t love you,” he blurted out. “Ah, I mean, I do, love you, but not like that…I’m not in love… Fuck. You are great… you are… I just… I mean…errr…”
“Harry…” Charlie laughed heartily and ruffled Harry’s hair even more. “I get it, don’t splinch yourself.” He smiled and looked almost fatherly for a second. “You know…” he said after a moment of silence. “I’m surprised that you go after a dragon-tamer, when both Ron and Hermione tell me you are more interested in dragons.”
“Wha…”
Harry had no chance of formulating the, probably incoherent, sentence. He was interrupted by a scream from the kitchen. It sounded like Molly, and the woman could scream.
Both Harry and Charlie pulled their wands, got to their feet and ran to the kitchen. The table was still set for breakfast, Ron and George the only strays. Harry could see a half chewed sandwich in Ron’s gaping mouth and George was staring at the butter dish like it was a dead rat. Ron’s eyes where fixed on his mother. Molly’s eyes were fixed on her heirloom clock that showed the location of her family.
“What is gong on?” asked Arthur Weasley coming in through the garden door holding a Muggle hammer, his oldest son, Bill, was on his heals. “Sweetheart?”
“The…” Ron swallowed his food. “The Prophet…”
Bill was already there, taking up the newspaper. He frowned as he read. Hermione and Ginny also arrived from the living room looking curious and worried.
“Waz iz goin’ on?” Fleur’s nervous voice was heard from behind them; she was eight months pregnant and did not jump to sound of danger like everyone else.
“Percy…” said her husband and looked up from the paper.
“Is he all right?” Ginny looked really worried for someone proclaiming that she disliked her formerly disowned brother. “Did they do anything to him? Has he been attacked?”
“He…” Bill looked down at the paper again and decided to read out loud instead of forming the words himself. “ Newly divorced Narcissa Black (formally Malfoy), forty-three, was freed of all charges today. Her involvement in the Dark Lord’s army was only marginal and she was never a Death Eater. According to testimony given by Harry Potter, eighteen, the Slayer of Voldemort and our All Time Hero, she was also very helpful in his defeat of the Dark Lord. The former Mrs. Malfoy celebrated her verdict, and divorce, by taking her…” Bill’s voice faltered “…her new love, Ministry investigator Percy Weasley, twenty-two, on holiday to France…” He lowered the paper.
They had been joined in the kitchen by Fleur. Harry looked over to the clock that Molly was staring at. All arrows pointed at the Burrow (even his, Hermione’s and Fleur’s) except three. Fred’s arrow pointed to Lost, George’s pointed to Illness and Percy’s pointed On Holiday. Harry gave a muffled snort.
That was before all hands (except Fred’s, Percy’s and Molly’s) suddenly moved simultaneously wandered to Mortal Peril. Molly’s hands shook and Magic cracked in the air around her. Arthur and Ron grabbed George between them and escaped though the garden door. Charlie took hold of Ginny and ran. Bill rushed to Fleur. Harry reacted by casting a wordless but very powerful protective shield over them, himself and Hermione.
Then Molly Weasley cast Avada Kadavra on the clock.
-------------------------<-----------------------@
It was a month since Harry defeated Voldemort. He had slept for more than half that time. The rest of the time he had spent at St. Mungo’s hospital or the Ministry. This had been his first time of real rest, coming to the Burrow. He had thought that it was going to be a new beginning to a happier life. Not this.
There had been surprises, like Snape surviving his snakebite and still being the Headmaster of Hogwarts. There had been huge sorrows, like McGonagall not surviving her injuries - her body had been placed next to Dumbledore’s. There had also been utter despair when a Fiend Fyre had raved some of the halls of Hogwarts, burning several of the fallen bodies so there was now only ashes to bury and no way to find out whose ashes they were. Fred’s body had been one of these.
Molly Weasley sat at her kitchen table. Before her stood a cup of tea, forgotten and cold. She had stared at nothing for the last hour since she had cast the Unforgivable that blew up her heirloom clock, the one that had displayed the locations of every member of her family. Her husband glanced around the corner from the safety of the living room. Arthur noticed that his wife had not moved. He sighed and turned back to the remainder of his children (biological, in-law and basically adopted) and shook his head.
“Let’s give her a few minutes more…” he ventured and returned to his seat by the fire.
Harry frowned and exchanged a glance with Charlie, who just shrugged. Ron was still in shock and wore a similar expression to his mother’s. Hermione was browsing the Prophet for what seemed like the hundredth time with a look of contemplation on her face.
“George?” asked Bill holding on to the hand of his very pregnant wife.
“Still locked in his room,” said Ginny biting her thumbnail. “It’s warded with some kind of invention of his, I can’t get through.”
“I probably could…” Harry sighed and shifted in his seat.
“Let him be,” Arthur kneaded the base of his nose. “He just needs time. We all do.”
“Yeah…” Harry bit his lip, glancing to Charlie again.
He had tried to kiss the dragon tamer just before the mayhem broke out. He still did not know if he was disappointed or not that he was turned down. It did leave other opportunities open.
“Poor Lucius Malfoy,” said Hermione and shook her head over the article.
This statement got the attention of the others in the room and even made Ron stir.
“I mean…” she said, blushing. “It can not be fun when your wife leaves you for a twenty-one year younger man.”
Lucius had been condemned not to leave his property for the rest of his life. His influence and wealth still had some weight after the fall of his lord, go figure. To spend the rest of his life inside the extensive Malfoy Manor grounds were probably quite bearable. There were even rumours that the he owned houses in France, Italy, Japan and America and could just portkey between them without breaking sentence.
“What I can’t wrap my head around,” said Arthur “…is what Narcissa saw in Percy to make her want to leave Lucius. I know Percy was one of her interrogators at the trials… But what happened?”
“Come on, dad,” huffed Charlie. “If you had the choice between Lucius and Percy, you’d take Percy too. Anyway, she probably seduced Percy to get a lighter sentence. She’ll leave him heartbroken in no time.”
Harry looked down at his hands. He would never confess to it, but he would have taken Lucius if that choice had been his. This thought made him turn his mind to Draco Malfoy. He bit his lip. He had gone after Charlie because he thought it safer to go after the dragon tamer than going after the dragon. Now that he was rejected by Charlie, the thought of Draco was back in Harry’s mind.
Draco was going back to Hogwarts for the last year.
“I’m going back to Hogwarts for the last year.”
The assembled looked up at the top at the stairs to George. The lone twin was thinner than ever and his face looked decades years older than his mere twenty. There was stone cold determination in his eyes.
“Fred wanted us to finish our NEWTs,” he continued. “I’m honouring that.”
“What ever you want, son,” Arthur stood and gave a weak smile. “I’m happy you reached a decision.”
George nodded and descended the stairs. Charlie stepped forwards and laid his arm around him, guiding his younger brother to sit on the sofa next to Ron and Hermione. As they sat down Molly exited the kitchen.
“Does anybody want tea?” she asked in an almost chirpy voice. “I’m baking a pineapple up-side-down cake. Harry dear, you look thin. Do you want some dinner? I can do a roast in no time! Just wait here!”
She returned to the kitchen and the sound of clashing cooking wear echoed though the silent house.
“Denial,” said Hermione knowingly before returning to the article. “It’s quite normal.”
Harry was not listening. He was already writing a letter in his head to Draco Malfoy asking him out for a date.
---<-@
Potter.
You are completely certifiable and I don’t date mad people.
Draco Malfoy
Harry read the letter over again.
He was sitting in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express. The other occupants were Ron, Hermione, George and Luna Lovegood. The Ravenclaw was reading Quibbler and was wearing a neon pink dress under her school robes.
“What am I going to do?” he sighed, folding the letter tenderly.
“I think he is just worried about his parents,” ventured George. “His mom has run away and his dad is all alone now.”
“Do you think…” Harry bit his lip, thinking a crazy and desperate thought.
“Full sentences, Harry,” said Hermione looking up form her new Transfigurations book.
“I mean…” he began again. “If we get a date for Lucius… That Draco would…”
Ron laughed
“You want to play matchmaking for a former Death Eater?”
“He is reformed,” murmured Harry. “And he was coerced, mostly… Anyway, it would make Draco happy to see his dad happy and then he’d go out with me.”
“I see flaws in this plan…” George shook his head with a broad smile. “But I’m game.”
“I think it’s stupid,” murmured Hermione. “Fine,” she put her book away.
“We should make a list,” decided Ron eagerly, Harry guessed that it was because Ron had a crush on Pansy Parkinson and figured his chances were better if Harry dated her best friend. “We write down all we know about Lucius Malfoy and then try to find someone from there.”
George, who had not been accepted as a student but well as a teacher’s aid, liked this idea and produced quill and paper from his seemingly bottomless fanny pack. He was going to assist the new Transfiguration teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart. It seemed like good teachers were really hard to find after the war, and that Snape was totally desperate.
They had all been surprised when hearing of the vain wizard’s recovery. Apparently there had been a huge development in Healing Magic when all secrets of Voldemort had come to day. The Dark Lord had, apparently, shown a spectacular interest in the subject - probably so that he could develop counter measures and un-Healing spells. There were stories of him curing and un-curing victims for weeks just for the fun of it.
Lockhart would still need an aid though, his memory and condition not being completely recovered. George had jumped at the chance, saying that he did not care if it was Lockhart, just as long as he could do his NEWTs on the side. He was determined to live his life in a way that would make Fred proud. If it was one thing Fred had hated was people who were boring and gloomy.
Harry wrote ‘Lucius Malfoy’ at the top of the paper.
“Heterosexual,” noted Hermione ticking of her fingers. “Forty-five, divorced, one son, tempestuous, former henchman of Evil…”
“DADA professor,” chirped Luna.
“WHAT?!” screamed her four compartment mates.
“Shacklebolt thought his sentence was too benign,” Luna held up the Quibbler insinuating that this was in the magazine (even if the page she held up was a feature on Harry). “He thought the worst punishment for Lucius would be to get an ordinary job.”
“And they let him work with children?” gaped Ron.
“Snape’s his best friend,” mused Harry, writing this fact down. “His only friend probably. It would only be logical for him to offer Lucius a job.”
“Still,” shivered the redhead.
“So what do you think Draco would like in a date for his dad?” Harry chewed the quill.
“Stop that,” Hermione smacked his arm. “You are ruining a perfectly good quill. And you are getting ink on you chin again.”
Harry sighed and lowered the feather away from his mouth. He was really desperate to get together with Draco. He had seen him on Platform 9 ¾ as they embarked the train. Draco meet-up with the harshness of arrest, trials, his mother leaving and his father being miserable, had turned the boy into a man. A man that Harry suddenly had burned for with the power of a thousand suns. And when Draco had even given him an appraising look, Harry had almost fainted.
“I think Draco likes his old mom,” pondered George. “But the safe card would be to find a woman who looks like Narcissa. Blond.”
“She would also have to be insane…” muttered Ron.
“But still smart enough to peak his interest,” Hermione nervously played with her brown hair. “And pure-blood….”
Eight eyes turned to Luna.
“No,” she said, not sounding dreamy at all.
“It only has to be one date,” pleaded Harry. “If Lucius goes on a date, then I can take Draco out and then I can convince him to stay with me even if you and his father don’t get together.”
“No,” repeated Luna.
“I come with you on your expedition,” Harry breathed.
“You will?” Luna widened her wide eyes and showed him all her teeth.
Luna had asked Harry several times to come with her on her planned research expedition after graduation. She was planning to be the next female Newt Scaramander and write the groundbreaking new book on magical beasts and creatures (even those who only seemed to exist in her head).
“Yes,” Harry pleaded, the thought of wading though swamps looking for Heffalumps or whatever, was not so horrible if he knew Draco would be waiting for him when he got home.
“Deal!” Luna held out her hand to him. “I will get your future boyfriend’s father laid.”
“Deal,” Harry shook it.
-----------<----@
Sitting in the Great Hall listening to Headmaster Snape rasping out a welcome speech, spiced with threats and insults, Harry examined the teachers. Slughorn was still there, looking like an overweight walrus. Lockhart stared out into space with naïve and empty eyes, but sporting a smile that made the female populace of the Hall sigh from time to time. The table seemed so bare without McGonagall’s presence, but the other new addition to the staff made up for any intimidation she would have exuded.
Lucius Malfoy looked like he was wishing to go on a murderous rampage and hang all his victims’ heads from the Astronomy Tower like popcorns on a string. Harry could not help but to shiver, he was taking advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts this year. Not that he needed it; Harry could teach the class himself if he was certified, but to get certified he must take the class. Not that he ever wanted to teach DADA, but still.
He glanced over to the Slytherin table and the only three persons coming back for their last year. Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy. Draco was staring at his father with great concern. He looked ready to jump up and defend the entire school if Lucius suddenly should snap. Harry smiled at the sight; he decided to write a new letter telling Draco about their plans to set up his father with Luna.
“Poor Malfoy,” sighed Hermione beside him.
“Draco can handle himself,” Harry was already halfway gone in fantasies involving naked pale limbs, cream and a wand-less binding spell.
“I meant Professor Malfoy,” Hermione had a sad look on her face. “He looks so heartbroken.”
Both Harry and Ron looked over at the blond professor. Lucius was glaring at Lockhart like the man’s severed skull would make a excellent table lamp.
“Yes,” murmured Ron. “Heartbroken…”
“I’m going to owe Luna so much more than an expedition.” Harry looked over to the Ravenclaw table were Luna actually appeared a little pale. “We can’t do this to her.”
“Don’t worry, mate,” Ron dug in to the Sheppard’s pie that had just appeared before them. “It is just going to one date, and then Luna can dump him.”
“Poor Professor Malfoy,” Hermione sighed,
-------------<-----@
Harry actually felt a little scared as he walked in to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. There were only five other eight years taking the advanced course. Draco Malfoy was one of them; he was standing as far away from his father as he could. The other four were Dean Thomas, Ernie McMillan, Terry Boot and Padma Patil, all of whom were Aurors to be.
For himself, Harry was not sure what he wanted to do when he graduated. He had thought about being a curse-breaker like Bill, but was not sure. Quiddich could be fun, but not with the pressure that came from being a professional. Anyway, he did not have to make a decision until after New Year, and that was four months away. He glanced over at Draco; at least Harry knew what he wanted now.
“Class…” drawled Lucius and sounded like the word stung in his mouth. “Duelling is a noble and ancient art. It is preformed with control, knowledge, imagination and grace. Something I have seen some of you lacking…”
His eyes darted to Harry and narrowed. Harry swallowed. Lucius was about to say something more but was interrupted by the door opening. Luna Lovegood walked in with a nervous look on her normally calm face.
“Yes?” Lucius turned to her with a frown.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Professor,” she smiled.
“Are you taking this class, Lovegood? You are not on my list.”
“I changed classes,” Luna stepped forward holding out a note. “Headmaster Snape said it was fine.”
Harry noticed that she let her fingers brush against Lucius’s as he took the note from her. The professor twitched a little and then looked down at the note. Two seconds later his features changed from irritated to an evil grin. Lucius looked up at Harry, and that did not mean good things were coming.
“Mr Potter,” he almost purred. “It seems that we now have an uneven number of students. You will have to partner with me.”
“Father!” gasped Draco from his corner.
“That is Professor Malfoy, Mr. Malfoy,” Lucius shot an irritated glance at his son. “You pair with Miss Lovegood, here.”
Luna gave Harry shrug of her shoulders and wandered of to Draco.
“Now,” Lucius twirled his cane like a baton before him. “As I was saying… control, knowledge, imagination and grace. The way you move can often be as effective as a spell cast. For example… Stupify!
He cast the spell right at Harry’s chest. Harry reacted immediately with blocking it and then casting the spell back to Lucius. The professor simply stepped to the side, letting the magic hit the stone wall behind him and then continued to hex Terry Boot with a light Sting. Terry shrieked. The class gasped. Harry looked to Terry and Lucius hit him with a Tripping-spell. Harry fell to the floor, shaking with a sudden onset of anger and adrenaline. He jumped to his feet holding his wand out waiting for another attack.
“Mr. Potter has just shown us the blunt way of duelling,” Lucius leered. “The correct way would have been to anticipate which way I was going to move and then saved his friend. Whom I’m unfortunate to say is dead. Mr. Boot, you should not assume you are not in the fight just because you are not doing the duelling.”
“That’s a dirty trick!” huffed Harry, calming down a little.
“And if I was the Auror and you the criminal, Mr. Potter?” Lucius stepped closer, making Harry clench his wand harder. “Would you use this dirty trick to apprehend two criminals, or would you exhaust yourself in battling one while the other got away? Or hit you from behind?”
Harry looked away. Lucius smiled triumphantly. Draco laughed.
------<-----@
“Potter!”
Harry and Ron were standing outside the Great Hall waiting for Hermione to join them for dinner. He turned at the sound of Draco’s voice. He scowled a bit when he saw Draco approaching him, hand in hand with Pansy Parkinson. Ron also tensed at the sight.
“Potter…” Draco looked a little uncharacteristically unsure. “Did you mean what you said in that letter? That you wanted…”
“I don’t know…” Harry looked down at Draco’s and Pansy’s joined hands. “Not if you are taken…”
“Oh,” the blond smirked and glanced at Pansy. “It’s not…
“My parents…” started the girl but her voice broke; Harry noted her red and glossy eyes.
“Father is adopting Pansy, since she is alone now…” Draco pulled the girl closer as tears began to fall down her cheeks. “He wanted us to marry, but…” He and Pansy snorted in unison.
“I’m sorry…” Harry felt awful for suspecting the girl.
He was going to say more but he was interrupted by Hermione running towards them, dragging Luna behind her by the hand. Hermione looked ecstatic, Luna looked a little puzzled.
“Harry!” Hermione’s happy voice echoed through the Entrance Hall. “Harry! Luna got detention with professor Malfoy! Well… We got detention. Me too, but still!” she nearly jumped with excitement. “I… I mean, we let out all the moths and flies he was going to use for target practice with the third years tomorrow. The room is full of them… oh. Hi Malfoy.”
“Granger,” Draco raised an eyebrow.
They stood a couple of moments just looking at each other, well; Luna looked at the dust floating in the sunbeams of the sunset coming in through the high windows. Harry felt tense and nervous so close to Draco. He bit his lip.
“Why…?” began Draco.
“We are setting your dad up with Luna,” blurted Harry.
Draco began to cough, Pansy just looked more shocked.
“It’s fine!” smiled Luna reassuringly. “I don’t mind. He is hot and I’m not a virgin.”
This made Harry, Hermione and Ron cough and splurt too. Draco seemed to have an aneurism.
“Merlin, Luna!” breathed Harry. “I only want you to date him so he will be happy, and then Draco won’t have to worry when I… oh... err…” he glanced at the pale object of his affection.
“I won’t make him fall in love with me, Harry,” objected Luna in a calm voice, her eyes still fixed on the sun dust. “I am not in love with him. He is already heartbroken because of his wife leaving. If we make it about sex then nobody needs to be hurt. I can be his re-bound girl.”
The five other just stared at her. Harry felt really bad. It felt like he was solicitating his friend. What kind of friend was he, expecting her to sleep with Lucius? He turned back to Draco who still was quite pale, still holding on to Pansy.
“You…” Draco swallowed and shifted his silver eyes to Harry. “You are making your friend sleep with my father so that I will date you?”
“It…” Harry tore away from gawking at his feet. “I mean… I… Is it working?”
“Lovegood makes sense, amazingly enough,” Draco shook his head and exchanged a look with Pansy, who gave a minuscule nod. “Father needs to get on with his life… And I with mine…” He took a breath and pulled himself together in an aristocratic pose. “You can escort me and Pansy to Hogsmeade this weekend. We have some shopping to do and the shopkeepers will be nicer to us if we‘re with you.”
“Thank you,” smiled Harry.
“Excuse us,” Draco sighed. “I and my sister are going to dinner.”
Harry moved a little so they could pass to the Great Hall. Ron suddenly desperately pulled on his arm.
“Wait, Malfoy!” Harry called out as Draco opened the door. “Can Ron come too?”
“Whatever,” murmured Draco and pulled his new sister with him into the hall.
Harry smiled; he had seen the mirth in Draco’s eyes.
--------<------@
Lucius Malfoy had known three things for certain for quite some time now. It was only in his ministry cell awaiting his final trial that he admitted to himself that they where true.
First of, his Lord had been utterly and certifiably mad. Lucius had followed this madman for more than half his life. He had done this partly because of fear, partly because of habit and mostly because some of the madness had made sense at the time. Now it was just madness, Lucius accepted this.
Second, he was going to loose his wife. He had his suspicions about this ever since he, as a thirteen-year-old, had signed the marriage contract to a rather sulky eleven-year-old girl. His own father and Narcissa’s had shook hands and that was that. During the years he and Narcissa had grown to respect and care for each other, but they had never been in love. After Draco had been conceived, sex had only been occasional and only to ‘scratch the itch’, so to say. Now Narcissa had a chance to find her own life. Lucius accepted this.
Third, Draco was going to disown him. The boy’s only chance for a somewhat decent life was to turn away from his father, to denounce everything that was Lucius Malfoy. Draco had it on his shoulders to start rebuilding the family-name. It was a hard task for a boy of only eighteen, but Lucius was sure Draco could do it. He loved his son more than anything he ever pretended to love more. Now Draco was going to leave him. Lucius did not accept this.
During his trial he had apologised to Severus and made sure the man knew that they were still friends and no grudges where held. Severus, still very pale and heavily bandaged had given him such a grateful smile that the entire courtroom had been at a loss for several minutes. Severus Snape did not smile like that, even Lucius had been a little shocked but happy none the less.
From there it had not been hard to convince Kingsley Shacklebolt that the worst thing that could happen to a Malfoy was an honest day’s work. Lucius smiled at the memory, he still got his manipulation-skills that had taken him to heights both in politics and within the Death Eaters. So he scowled, he sneered, and he glared (which was not hard considering ha had to sit next to Lockhart at the High Table), but inside he revelled. He was going to win his son back, no matter what it took. And if that took teaching children how to handle boggarts, he would do it.
Dinner this evening had been a trial. Lockhart had had a memory-laps and thought that Lucius was a former lover of his. Lucius had to suffer being called ‘sweetheart’ though the entire meal and even been force fed a spoonful of desert before George Weasley had arrived in a flush and removed the amours idiot. Only a two months earlier Lockhart would have found himself a pile of smoking ash. Lucius clenched his wand as he moved though the corridor toward his office and the two girls he had sent for detention.
He stopped abruptly as he heard the Mud… use the new vocabulary, Malfoy! Muggle-born Granger girl’s voice around the corner.
“Is it true that you are not a virgin?” she asked.
“Yes,” the Lovegood-girl answered in her irritatingly aloof tone.
“What…” Granger seemed to hesitate and swallow. “What’s it like?” Embarrassment flooded her voice.
“Wizards or witches?”
Lucius decided to lean against the wall and let the conversation take its course. It was not that he wanted to know about the young girl’s sex life, but he did always welcome new knowledge. He was aware that he was going to spend the rest of his life teaching teenagers, and an insight to their minds could not hurt. He had only ever had sex with Narcissa, and that had been limited too. His own teenage years had been cursed by his virginity while waiting for his wedding night. He had been almost twenty when Narcissa finally graduated school.
“I like boys,” Granger said after she seemed to recover from a small chock. “But I would like to hear about the witch sex later... I researched everything I could find about wizard sex when I found out Harry was gay. He did not say as much but I know he was very grateful. He took copies of all my notes.”
“Oh,” Lovegood laughed. “Draco is in for it then.”
“I know!” giggled Hermione. “He is over the moon now that Malfoy agreed to a date.”
Lucius felt his heart in his throat. His son. His only son. That’s why he didn’t want to marry Pansy. Lucius had thought it was because the girl really was like a sister, or not just Draco’s type. Potter had asked Draco out and Draco had accepted. And Potter had a pile of notes with wizard sex. Potter…
Lucius Malfoy’s politically calculating mind raced. Potter was power. Potter was influence. Potter was a boy… Never mind. This was an opportunity not to be turned away. He felt curiously proud. He had but forgotten about the girls, until he caught his own name.
“Poor Professor Malfoy,” sighed Granger. “I feel bad for him.”
“Do you want to have him instead?” asked Lovegood lightly. “I really don’t mind. I’ve always preferred dark hair on a man myself.”
“I… What… I…” Granger splurted as Lucius got his second chock in as many minutes. “He would never want me! I’m… I’m a muggleborn. I have frizzy hair and it’s brown. And I’m not pretty, like you… or…”
“You like him.”
“I… I do… but…” she trailed of.
“I think you are pretty,” said Lovegood. “I think you should go for it.”
Lucius had heard enough. Stepping out from his hiding place he faced the two girls sitting on the floor outside his office. Both looked at him like he was a Dementor. He decided to stay calm and pretend like he had not heard what they had been talking about. His mind reeled though.
“Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood,” he forced himself to hide his emotions (not hard since these where teenage girls and his emotion-hiding-skills where trained by Voldemort). “You are to replace every single insect that you liberated. If you are not finished by nine o clock you will have detention tomorrow as well. Here is a list of species I want.”
He held out a parchment he written earlier. Granger got to her feet and took it with shaking hands. She did not meet his eyes. Lucius narrowed his eyes at her. She was pretty. The thought made him scowl. He left in a flair of robes, he needed a drink. A large one.
-------<----@
The Saturday morning had been quite enjoyable for Draco. He had had a nice breakfast and did only receive two hexes (one itching and one stinging) and there had been no salt in his tea. Any day starting without heaving in boy’s toilet was a good day in Draco’s book. He wondered when it had gotten to this - he had after all only been back to Hogwarts for a week. Pansy was merely hit by a bad-hair-day-jinx, but she covered it gracefully with a very green and cute cap. A quite bearable morning, indeed.
Potter and Weasley had saved them from being ambushed on the way to Hogsmeade. Their would-be assailants did not seem too disappointed though. Draco was a little worried that Potter’s and Weasley’s offer to protect him and Pansy was a setup for a bigger humiliation. He was grateful that both his father and godfather held such powerful positions at the school, it kept some of the worst heat away. But Potter and Weasley were known to not follow the rules, and to not be scared of neither Snape nor Lucius.
After two hours of shopping Draco’s mind was a little more at ease. Potter and Weasley had kindly accompanied him and Pansy while they made their shopping. Neither of the Gryffindors had been good in giving advice on purchases, but both Draco and Pansy agreed that they were very sweet in trying. Draco had even been able to persuade Potter not to buy a blue plaid shirt, and if that was not his heroic act of the century - he did not know what was.
Potter had been fulfilling his self acclaimed bodyguard duties as well. He had diverted three spells from hitting Draco and he had also lectured not more than five groups of people on the morals and ethics of the post-war world. Weasley was blunter, and had forcefully throttled a adult fat wizard calling Pansy by an obscene name. Potter had to save the fat wizard as well, but he was not as heroic doing so as in saving Draco. All in all, it had been a good morning.
The first obstacle came when Weasley and Potter wanted to take tea. There was a slight discussion where they should go. Draco had apologised to Madame Rosmerta, but he still did not feel comfortable to go to The Three Broomsticks. The Hogs Head would be suicide, even Potter understood that. The new coffee shop, Witch Brew, was too crowded and the pub, The Moon And Tackle, did not serve students. They could go to the restaurant, Chez Cochon, but that was sadly enough out of the Gryffindors’ league. That left them with Madam Puddifoot’s café.
Draco was apprehensive as soon as he entered the Hufflepuff territory. He did not like the pink walls, or the abundance of flowers or pictures of small baby animals. To his relief; Potter and Weasley seemed just as uncomfortable and him and Pansy. But they all soldiered on and choose a table by the window. A waitress came forward to take their orders.
“What do you want?” asked Potter. “My treat.”
“We’ll have what you are having,” said Pansy busy organising her shrunken purchases in her purse.
“Same for me,” said Weasley.
The redhead was still quite red after enduring a quarter of an hour in the women’s underwear department at Gladrags. Pansy and Draco had enjoyed watching him suffer, while Potter just had looked bored the entire time. The only time he peaked up was when Pansy jokingly had held up a ruffled silk petticoat against Draco. Draco did not know if he should be worried over this or not.
“Potter…” said Draco hesitantly.
“Yes?” Potter smiled curiously at him.
“The letter you sent me…” he let his trained face turn coy “…did you mean what you said?”
“What?” Potter looked confused..
“That you wanted to date me?” Draco looked away shyly, ignoring Pansy rolling her eyes.
“Of course I did…” Potter placed his hand on Draco’s. “I… I…”
“Do you like me, Potter…” he abruptly ended the act and looked straight into Potter’s surprised green eyes. “Or do you just want to fuck me?”
Potter was still spluting nonsense, and Weasley was redder then ever, as the waitress returned with their orders, four hot chocolates and four pieces of cheesecake. Draco noticed immediately that she was careful to place the plates and cups in a certain order before she left. He and Pansy exchanged a look over the table. Trouble was coming.
“Can’t I want both?” Potter finally managed with a rather squeaky voice that was non-fitting a big time war hero.
“Certainly not!” Draco huffed, giving himself an indignant look and poking his cake with his fork. “If you just want to fuck me, all you have to do is ask me and I’ll give you a night fulfilling your deepest darkest kinkiest fantasy, but I’ll be gone in the morning.”
Potter began to splurt again. Draco really, really hoped that Potter’s deepest darkest kinkiest fantasy did not involve him dressing up as the Dark Lord, or Lucius.
“But if you want a relationship…” he looked to Weasley, nodding meaning to Pansy “…and this goes for you too: You have to ask our father first.”
“What!” Potter’s shout echoed though the room; turning every head to them (several of those heads were attached to faces looking hatefully at Draco). “That’s ridiculous!”
“It’s not,” Draco crossed his arms and pouted in a most adoring way. “Ask Weasley.”
“He is right, mate,” said Weasley nervously exchanging a glance with Pansy. “The oldest pureblood families have that tradition. We don’t… but Bill had to ask Fleur’s father…”
“Shit…” Potter looked down at the tempting cake on his plate, biting his lip. “Err…”
“What?” Draco was poking his own cake with his wand to figure out what the kitchen staff had done with it. “Spit it out, Potter.”
“If I ask your father… errr… are we still doing the fantasy thing?”
Draco almost dropped his wand. He was too shocked to speak. He had been so certain that Potter would choose the easy way out and go with the shag. To further his own chock along, he noticed too late that he was nodding. Merlin, please don’t make me put on that petticoat and spell away my nose.
“Ronald?” Pansy said narrowing her eyes. “Do you agree?”
“I… I guess so…” Weasley looked a little green over the prospect of asking Lucius Malfoy if he could date Pansy - after all, Pansy had only been a Malfoy for less than a week now.
“Sealed with a kiss,” Pansy kissed Weasley quickly on the lips and smiled as he went from green to red again.
Potter looked expectantly at Draco. Draco rolled his eyes, took his fork and cut a big chunk of his cake.
“Eat this,” he said, holding the piece of cake to Potter’s lips.
“What?”
“It is laced with whatever they want to poison me with,” Draco narrowed his eyes. “If you eat it, I know I can trust you.”
Without hesitation Potter opened up his mouth and let himself be fed. As Potter’s eyes began to water and his face frowned in a nauseated grimace, Draco knew without a doubt that he could fall in love with this man. The next moment he was struck with at least three different painful spells and the world went black.
---------<---------@
Hermione and Luna were standing in the small book section of the parchment store. It was nothing like Flourish and Bott’s, but then again what was? There were no school books, or any kind of non-fiction at all for that matter. To be honest, the single bookcase in the back of the store was devoted to romantic fiction. Hermione had never been there before, though she had often noticed giggling Hufflepuff girls standing close to it. Luna seemed familiar to the bookcase as well and had told Hermione that she needed some light reading.
“But I have the latest edition of ‘Hogwarts A History’,” protested Hermione.
“You wrote the latest edition of ‘Hogwarts A History’,” mused Luna and chose a book from the shelf displaying a bare breasted man holding a swooned woman in his arms.
“Did not,” Hermione tried not to look fascinated over the picture. “I merely gave the authors some advice so that the renderings would be correct.”
“Hm.” Luna continued to look at book covers. “Doesn’t he look like Professor Malfoy?”
“I’ve been thinking…” Hermione took the book and blushed a little over the scantly clad blond pirate. “Doesn’t it have to be you who… er… cheers him up? With your promise to Harry and all? That he was going with you on your expedition?”
“I said I was going to get the professor laid,” Luna moved on to the register with her small stack of books. “I never said with whom.”
Hermione took this in while she reluctantly paid for the pirate book. She could not deny that she was attracted to the older Malfoy, Draco had never done anything for her - he was just a snotty spoiled kid. But Lucius... She would never admit it to anyone but she had a box full of newspaper clippings about him hidden in her trunk.
And… She knew she was imagining things and over-interpreted them as well, but… During the war, when they had been caught by the snatchers and brought to the Malfoy Manor... While she was tortured by Bellatrix, Hermione had looked straight at Lucius. He had looked saddened, maybe even horrified. At least he had looked disgusted. Their eyes had held for a moment just before the pain had taken her over. She had lived on that look though the war. That look was the reason she approved Harry’s defence of the man in court and the fact that he now taught at their school.
As she and Luna exited the store the bumped into George and Professor Lockhart. Hermione narrowed her eyes at a blue collar around the professor’s neck. It matched perfectly to his blue robes and actually gave his handsome features some edge. Luna immediately began to talk to Lockhart about some creature that she either imagined or was going to eventually find. He boasted that he had already seen it.
“George?” Hermione gestured to the collar. “Isn’t that for pets?”
“What am I supposed to do?” George shrugged casually. “When he gets his episodes he usually gets himself lost. With this I can find him without constant tracking spells. And…” he leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “I think he likes it, he is actually quite kinky. He is constantly flirting with me.”
“Is he not getting better?” she blushed.
“He has therapy once a week,” George looked to Lockhart to see that he was still talking to Luna. “Snape has him on a potion treatment; we are on our way back for one now. He is getting better. But…”
“He has episodes?” Hermione filled in.
“Yes,” he looked a little sad. “He…” George quieted abruptly, looking over her shoulder.
Hermione turned to see what he was looking at. She also felt lost for words at that moment. Ron was walking towards them; he was carrying Malfoy on his back. The blond head rested unconsciously on his shoulder and limp arms were spelled to hold on to him. Next to him Harry was holding hands with Pansy Pa… Malfoy, she seemed to be leading him. Harry looked like a stubborn child. His face was red and swollen, tears running down his cheeks. He was holding a large lollipop in his mouth.
“What happened?!” she rushed forward in panic.
“The waitress put extra hot pepper in Malfoy’s cake,” said Ron shifting Malfoy’s weight on his back. “Harry ate it to prove himself worthy.”
“Harry!” Hermione shrieked running over to her friend. “How could you do something that stupid?”
“He can’t talk right now, Granger,” Pansy snickered.
“Ish wasch de write sching do doo,” said Harry around his lolly, looking quite proud of himself.
“And Malfoy?” asked George, stepping forward to help his brother with his burden.
“Everyone thought he had poisoned Harry,” Ron smirked. “So he was hit with at least three stunners, that I saw, and a toad-belcher. It was hilarious!”
“Hrm!” Pansy glared.
“It was horrible!” corrected Ron. “Those bastards. Bastards!” he shook his fist at a couple of fifth year Ravenclaws that were trying to pass by un-noticed.
“Anyway,” Pansy rolled her eyes. “We are going to the Three Broomsticks to use their floo to get to the infirmary.”
“I’ll go with you,” said George taking Malfoy on his own back. “Luna, can you take Gilderoy to Snape? He has some potions ready for him.”
“Sure,” Luna smiled broadly.
“It’s Gilderoy now, is it?” snickered Ron as he spelled Malfoy’s arms to hold on to George.
“Shut up.”
“I better come with… to report this to professor Malfoy,” said Hermione and tried not to blush or seem eager.
She ignored Luna’s wink.
-----------------<-----------@
Severus raised an eyebrow as Lovegood brought Lockhart into his office. He had been waiting for about ten minutes with the potions, but the tirade on lateness had to wait now. Lockhart gave him a nervous greeting and gave the bottles on the table a nervous glance.
“Where is Weasley?” Severus asked, directing Lockhart to a chair.
“He had to take Draco to the infirmary,” Lovegood was staring at something to the left of his head.
“What happened?” he kept calm but felt a little panic in his chest, Draco was probably the closest he would ever get to his own child, if he didn’t count Potter - and he never counted Potter!
“Oh, he is fine,” Lovegood was now looking at something right of his head. “Just a couple of stunners,” she mused.
He narrowed his eyes at her.
“How many is it today?” asked Lockhart, shifting nervously in his seat. “I’m a busy man, you know.”
“Five,” Severus muttered and held out the first bottle. “Hold this in your mouth and do not swallow until I say so, then immediately take this one.”
He watched on as Lockhart took the first potion and held it. He placed the next bottle in the man’s hands so it would warm up a little. Every time Lockhart exhaled though his nose a scent of rosemary spread around the room. Severus turned to Lovegood. He met her big blue eyes for a second before she looked to the left of him again.
“Are there wackspurts around my head, Miss Lovegood?” he asked amusedly.
She had written an essay for him on them once, and he read the Quibbler (they had a surprisingly good potions section.) He did not believe a word of her ramblings but he found it endearing that she had such an imagination. He had known her father in school; he had been a Ravenclaw, three years older than him. Xeno had always been mad, but brilliant. There was no surprise that his daughter was the same.
“Several,” she answered and blushed. “They like you.”
“Good to know…” he turned to Lockhart. “Swallow.”
Lockhart swallowed and drank the next bottle down. He gagged a little and coughed. Severus handed him the third vial.
“Slowly.”
“Is this wormwood, professor?” asked Lovegood taking up the first empty bottle and smelling it.
“Yes,” Severus was impressed, but hid it well under a scowl. “That is not in the curriculum, though. How did you know?”
“Oh,” she smiled and looked embarrassed, “I read your thesis…”
“Which one?” Severus roughly handed Lockhart the fourth vial.
“All of them, professor.”
“All?”
“Yes,” She began to play with her hair. “I found Dumbledore’s archive room in the forth tower when I was looking for Geebogacks, they like the smell of parchments you know.”
“I didn’t know,” he handed over the last bottle to Lockhart. What archive? He did not know of any archive!
“They do,” Lovegood continued, curling her distractingly shiny hair around her fingers. “I go there to read. It is nice.”
“Can you show it to me?” I’m going to regret this
“Sure,” she beamed.
-----------------------<----------------@
Hermione stood in front of the portrait of Vald the Impaler and hesitated, the vampire leered at her. Pansy had given her the password to Lucius’ chambers. She shifted the weight on her feet. She could just send her patronus though the door and let it give the message of Draco’s condition to Lucius. But… But her patronus was a wild and dancing otter, it was not dignified enough.
“Vat you vant, little girl?” said the handsome vampire showing his fangs in a sharp smile. “Passvort?”
She was a little surprised that they had chosen Dracula to guard Lucius’ rooms. But then again Lucius was the Defence Against Dark Arts Professor, and Vlad was the most famous vampire ever. Hermione took a deep breath.
“Serpus Magna”
“Entar,” the portrait swung open.
The room she stepped I to reminded her about a mix between pictures she seen from Versailles, Snape’s office, a library and… something like her own home. She looked curiously around, trying to find out what that familiar feeling was. Lucius Malfoy was not in the room. Hermione could hear water running from a door further of. Oh my god, he is showering!
She was just going to run out when her eye was caught by the bookshelves. Books and pamphlets, leather bound, gold printed titles, old as sin. She could never get an opportunity like this again. Carefully, with one eye and ear to the bathroom door, she approached the shelves. Lucius liked to read. Many of these books must have come from Malfoy manor. She blinked as she saw a clearly new book among the old ones, Hogwarts A History - re-edited by Hermione Granger. She passed over her own name with the tip of her finger, feeling a strange surge of joy - though she knew he only had the book to familiarize with his new workplace.
Her eyes wandered along the other books, noticing names, titles and authors. A small book no bigger than a book of psalms caught her interest. It was bound in light brown leather, cracked with age, its title worn away by time. She reached out to take it, but stopped just short of an inch. The book was old, ancient even. It would be fragile. She bit her lower lip, looking to the bathroom - the water was still flowing.
Carefully Hermione took out her wand and transfigured her handkerchief to a rubber glove. She put the glove on her left hand. Gently she pulled the small book out. Its covers were like paper. She used her wand to slowly turn the pages. 1648, she read the print on the first page. The print was old gothic, round, beautiful, intricate letters. It seemed to be a book of spells and charms, but all written in poetic verse. The language seemed to be a combination of Latin, Gaelic and… was that Greek? She frowned, trying to decipher the letters; she had just begun to learn Greek, and that was with modern letters.
“Hrm?”
Hermione jumped at the sound and gave out a small shriek. She had been so consumed by the book to notice Lucius Malfoy standing right behind her… wearing only a green silk bathrobe.
“Professor!” she breathed. “I… I…”
“Yes?” he looked down at her sternly; he had a white towel over his shoulders, preventing his long hair to wet his robe.
“Draco is in the infirmary, sir,” she breathed.
“Could not be urgent,” he raised a worried brow. “Otherwise you would have come to me directly, and not prowl into my books.”
“I was not prowling…” Hermione protested haughtily.
“No,” Lucius looked at her gloved hand holding the old book. “You actually show consideration…” He met her eyes again, suddenly stern. “What has happened to Draco?”
“A couple of stunners…” she closed the book and carefully reinserted it in its place on the shelf. “He is fine, sir, but he needs to spend the night. He got hit with a toad-belcher and a confundus too.”
Lucius nodded, walking over to his wardrobe. Hermione could not move, seeing how the slick cloth moved over his strong back. He could be your father! a voice in her head screamed. No, my father is thirty nine years older than me, Professor Malfoy is only twenty six years older! she answered firmly. The logical part of her brain did an eye roll. Fine, but if you make a move, and against all odds it works… you will be Draco Malfoy’s mother! the icy voice of reason echoed though her head. But he smells really good…
“I am going to get dressed now,” informed Lucius giving her a stern look. “Thank you for…”
“I’m a muggleborn,” she splurted, not knowing what she was doing.
“I am aware of that,” he took a breath and walked up to her with a surprisingly kind face. “Look, Miss Granger. I am aware that I was… prejudged in the past. You do not have to be afraid of me anymore. I am your teacher now and I am… trying to reconcile my… shortcomings in this new world…”
Before her brain could think of more good excuses Hermione raised a little to her toes and kissed him. She panicked and pressed her open mouth against his closed. Lucius just stood still. Hermione backed away, tears in her eyes.
“It’s my hair, right?” she sobbed.
She was feeling confused, embarrassed and hurt. Lucius licked his lips, looking her over. His face was closed in the same Malfoy Mask that she had seen so many times on Draco’s face when ever he was plotting evil things against Harry. She sobbed again, stepping back.
“Miss Granger…”
“No, sir. I’m sorry…” she moved to the door, fingers to her lips and tears running down her face. “I’m so sorry.”
Vlad The Impalor grinned after her as she ran away; a smile not unlike the one on Lucius Malfoy’s face as he walked over to his wardrobe.
-------------------------<----------------@
George collected Gilderoy from professor Snape. He had delivered Draco to the infirmary. Ron and Pansy had stayed behind in the Three Broomsticks, something about not having eaten, but George suspected that his little brother wanted some time alone with the girl.
Snape had been talking to Luna when George arrived. He had noticed the way Luna was glancing at Snape when the other man looked away. George had given her a small smile. She and Fred had had a thing. Fred had been ready to propose to her when the war was over. Sadly, that was not to be. George could not take Fred’s place, it would not be fair for anyone. He sighed as he and Gilderoy walked towards their office.
“How are you?” Gilderoy looked his way.
George glanced up. It was rare that Gilderoy Lockhart cared about anyone else than Gilderoy Lockhart. He wondered if it was a trick, so that George should ask the question back. He did not really mind.
“I miss my brother,” he answered. “My twin, Fred. He died in the war…”
“I’m sad to hear that…” Gilderoy looked honest enough. “I don’t have a brother,” he mused, George smiled. “I got a sister, three years younger than me. Lorretta, her name is. She makes cheese… Talks to goats… Almost married a horse once… but that was just because her fiancé convinced her that he was a Animagus and tried to run away. She caught him in the end though… hunted him down on that very horse…”
George laughed out loud. Gilderoy smiled at him and continued to talk about his crazy sister.
------------------------------<-------------@
part2 and pictures
Author: naturegirlrocks
Rating: R
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Severus/Luna, Lucius/Hermione, Ron/Pansy, George/Gilderoy, Percy/Narcissa
Summary: Harry comes back to Hogwarts for his eighth year, he wants Draco but Lucius is the new DADA teacher, Snape is Headmaster and why is Lockhart back?
For harrypotterbang
Artist: The Wonderful cydciedah who took images from my brain and drew them.
“No, Harry,” said Charlie Weasley and put his strong right fore finger on Harry’s puckered lips. “I would love to kiss you, and Merlin knows I would sleep with you in a heartbeat. But…” he sighed. “But you deserve more…”
Harry sat back on the sofa. He felt confused, but not as hurt as he thought. It had taken all of his courage even to sit down next to Charlie, and that said a lot since Harry had been the only person ever not to flinch when staring into the eyes of Voldemort. He stroked his sweaty palms over his jeans, trying to form words with his non-cooperating mouth.
“I love you,” Charlie sighed and stroked his fingers through Harry’s thick black hair. “But not like that. Harry, you are eighteen years old, you are going back to school. I’m twenty six and I’m going back to Romania as soon as I know mom’s all right…”
“I… I’m…” Harry did not really know what to say. “I don’t love you,” he blurted out. “Ah, I mean, I do, love you, but not like that…I’m not in love… Fuck. You are great… you are… I just… I mean…errr…”
“Harry…” Charlie laughed heartily and ruffled Harry’s hair even more. “I get it, don’t splinch yourself.” He smiled and looked almost fatherly for a second. “You know…” he said after a moment of silence. “I’m surprised that you go after a dragon-tamer, when both Ron and Hermione tell me you are more interested in dragons.”
“Wha…”
Harry had no chance of formulating the, probably incoherent, sentence. He was interrupted by a scream from the kitchen. It sounded like Molly, and the woman could scream.
Both Harry and Charlie pulled their wands, got to their feet and ran to the kitchen. The table was still set for breakfast, Ron and George the only strays. Harry could see a half chewed sandwich in Ron’s gaping mouth and George was staring at the butter dish like it was a dead rat. Ron’s eyes where fixed on his mother. Molly’s eyes were fixed on her heirloom clock that showed the location of her family.
“What is gong on?” asked Arthur Weasley coming in through the garden door holding a Muggle hammer, his oldest son, Bill, was on his heals. “Sweetheart?”
“The…” Ron swallowed his food. “The Prophet…”
Bill was already there, taking up the newspaper. He frowned as he read. Hermione and Ginny also arrived from the living room looking curious and worried.
“Waz iz goin’ on?” Fleur’s nervous voice was heard from behind them; she was eight months pregnant and did not jump to sound of danger like everyone else.
“Percy…” said her husband and looked up from the paper.
“Is he all right?” Ginny looked really worried for someone proclaiming that she disliked her formerly disowned brother. “Did they do anything to him? Has he been attacked?”
“He…” Bill looked down at the paper again and decided to read out loud instead of forming the words himself. “ Newly divorced Narcissa Black (formally Malfoy), forty-three, was freed of all charges today. Her involvement in the Dark Lord’s army was only marginal and she was never a Death Eater. According to testimony given by Harry Potter, eighteen, the Slayer of Voldemort and our All Time Hero, she was also very helpful in his defeat of the Dark Lord. The former Mrs. Malfoy celebrated her verdict, and divorce, by taking her…” Bill’s voice faltered “…her new love, Ministry investigator Percy Weasley, twenty-two, on holiday to France…” He lowered the paper.
They had been joined in the kitchen by Fleur. Harry looked over to the clock that Molly was staring at. All arrows pointed at the Burrow (even his, Hermione’s and Fleur’s) except three. Fred’s arrow pointed to Lost, George’s pointed to Illness and Percy’s pointed On Holiday. Harry gave a muffled snort.
That was before all hands (except Fred’s, Percy’s and Molly’s) suddenly moved simultaneously wandered to Mortal Peril. Molly’s hands shook and Magic cracked in the air around her. Arthur and Ron grabbed George between them and escaped though the garden door. Charlie took hold of Ginny and ran. Bill rushed to Fleur. Harry reacted by casting a wordless but very powerful protective shield over them, himself and Hermione.
Then Molly Weasley cast Avada Kadavra on the clock.
-------------------------<-----------------------@
It was a month since Harry defeated Voldemort. He had slept for more than half that time. The rest of the time he had spent at St. Mungo’s hospital or the Ministry. This had been his first time of real rest, coming to the Burrow. He had thought that it was going to be a new beginning to a happier life. Not this.
There had been surprises, like Snape surviving his snakebite and still being the Headmaster of Hogwarts. There had been huge sorrows, like McGonagall not surviving her injuries - her body had been placed next to Dumbledore’s. There had also been utter despair when a Fiend Fyre had raved some of the halls of Hogwarts, burning several of the fallen bodies so there was now only ashes to bury and no way to find out whose ashes they were. Fred’s body had been one of these.
Molly Weasley sat at her kitchen table. Before her stood a cup of tea, forgotten and cold. She had stared at nothing for the last hour since she had cast the Unforgivable that blew up her heirloom clock, the one that had displayed the locations of every member of her family. Her husband glanced around the corner from the safety of the living room. Arthur noticed that his wife had not moved. He sighed and turned back to the remainder of his children (biological, in-law and basically adopted) and shook his head.
“Let’s give her a few minutes more…” he ventured and returned to his seat by the fire.
Harry frowned and exchanged a glance with Charlie, who just shrugged. Ron was still in shock and wore a similar expression to his mother’s. Hermione was browsing the Prophet for what seemed like the hundredth time with a look of contemplation on her face.
“George?” asked Bill holding on to the hand of his very pregnant wife.
“Still locked in his room,” said Ginny biting her thumbnail. “It’s warded with some kind of invention of his, I can’t get through.”
“I probably could…” Harry sighed and shifted in his seat.
“Let him be,” Arthur kneaded the base of his nose. “He just needs time. We all do.”
“Yeah…” Harry bit his lip, glancing to Charlie again.
He had tried to kiss the dragon tamer just before the mayhem broke out. He still did not know if he was disappointed or not that he was turned down. It did leave other opportunities open.
“Poor Lucius Malfoy,” said Hermione and shook her head over the article.
This statement got the attention of the others in the room and even made Ron stir.
“I mean…” she said, blushing. “It can not be fun when your wife leaves you for a twenty-one year younger man.”
Lucius had been condemned not to leave his property for the rest of his life. His influence and wealth still had some weight after the fall of his lord, go figure. To spend the rest of his life inside the extensive Malfoy Manor grounds were probably quite bearable. There were even rumours that the he owned houses in France, Italy, Japan and America and could just portkey between them without breaking sentence.
“What I can’t wrap my head around,” said Arthur “…is what Narcissa saw in Percy to make her want to leave Lucius. I know Percy was one of her interrogators at the trials… But what happened?”
“Come on, dad,” huffed Charlie. “If you had the choice between Lucius and Percy, you’d take Percy too. Anyway, she probably seduced Percy to get a lighter sentence. She’ll leave him heartbroken in no time.”
Harry looked down at his hands. He would never confess to it, but he would have taken Lucius if that choice had been his. This thought made him turn his mind to Draco Malfoy. He bit his lip. He had gone after Charlie because he thought it safer to go after the dragon tamer than going after the dragon. Now that he was rejected by Charlie, the thought of Draco was back in Harry’s mind.
Draco was going back to Hogwarts for the last year.
“I’m going back to Hogwarts for the last year.”
The assembled looked up at the top at the stairs to George. The lone twin was thinner than ever and his face looked decades years older than his mere twenty. There was stone cold determination in his eyes.
“Fred wanted us to finish our NEWTs,” he continued. “I’m honouring that.”
“What ever you want, son,” Arthur stood and gave a weak smile. “I’m happy you reached a decision.”
George nodded and descended the stairs. Charlie stepped forwards and laid his arm around him, guiding his younger brother to sit on the sofa next to Ron and Hermione. As they sat down Molly exited the kitchen.
“Does anybody want tea?” she asked in an almost chirpy voice. “I’m baking a pineapple up-side-down cake. Harry dear, you look thin. Do you want some dinner? I can do a roast in no time! Just wait here!”
She returned to the kitchen and the sound of clashing cooking wear echoed though the silent house.
“Denial,” said Hermione knowingly before returning to the article. “It’s quite normal.”
Harry was not listening. He was already writing a letter in his head to Draco Malfoy asking him out for a date.
---<-@
Potter.
You are completely certifiable and I don’t date mad people.
Draco Malfoy
Harry read the letter over again.
He was sitting in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express. The other occupants were Ron, Hermione, George and Luna Lovegood. The Ravenclaw was reading Quibbler and was wearing a neon pink dress under her school robes.
“What am I going to do?” he sighed, folding the letter tenderly.
“I think he is just worried about his parents,” ventured George. “His mom has run away and his dad is all alone now.”
“Do you think…” Harry bit his lip, thinking a crazy and desperate thought.
“Full sentences, Harry,” said Hermione looking up form her new Transfigurations book.
“I mean…” he began again. “If we get a date for Lucius… That Draco would…”
Ron laughed
“You want to play matchmaking for a former Death Eater?”
“He is reformed,” murmured Harry. “And he was coerced, mostly… Anyway, it would make Draco happy to see his dad happy and then he’d go out with me.”
“I see flaws in this plan…” George shook his head with a broad smile. “But I’m game.”
“I think it’s stupid,” murmured Hermione. “Fine,” she put her book away.
“We should make a list,” decided Ron eagerly, Harry guessed that it was because Ron had a crush on Pansy Parkinson and figured his chances were better if Harry dated her best friend. “We write down all we know about Lucius Malfoy and then try to find someone from there.”
George, who had not been accepted as a student but well as a teacher’s aid, liked this idea and produced quill and paper from his seemingly bottomless fanny pack. He was going to assist the new Transfiguration teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart. It seemed like good teachers were really hard to find after the war, and that Snape was totally desperate.
They had all been surprised when hearing of the vain wizard’s recovery. Apparently there had been a huge development in Healing Magic when all secrets of Voldemort had come to day. The Dark Lord had, apparently, shown a spectacular interest in the subject - probably so that he could develop counter measures and un-Healing spells. There were stories of him curing and un-curing victims for weeks just for the fun of it.
Lockhart would still need an aid though, his memory and condition not being completely recovered. George had jumped at the chance, saying that he did not care if it was Lockhart, just as long as he could do his NEWTs on the side. He was determined to live his life in a way that would make Fred proud. If it was one thing Fred had hated was people who were boring and gloomy.
Harry wrote ‘Lucius Malfoy’ at the top of the paper.
“Heterosexual,” noted Hermione ticking of her fingers. “Forty-five, divorced, one son, tempestuous, former henchman of Evil…”
“DADA professor,” chirped Luna.
“WHAT?!” screamed her four compartment mates.
“Shacklebolt thought his sentence was too benign,” Luna held up the Quibbler insinuating that this was in the magazine (even if the page she held up was a feature on Harry). “He thought the worst punishment for Lucius would be to get an ordinary job.”
“And they let him work with children?” gaped Ron.
“Snape’s his best friend,” mused Harry, writing this fact down. “His only friend probably. It would only be logical for him to offer Lucius a job.”
“Still,” shivered the redhead.
“So what do you think Draco would like in a date for his dad?” Harry chewed the quill.
“Stop that,” Hermione smacked his arm. “You are ruining a perfectly good quill. And you are getting ink on you chin again.”
Harry sighed and lowered the feather away from his mouth. He was really desperate to get together with Draco. He had seen him on Platform 9 ¾ as they embarked the train. Draco meet-up with the harshness of arrest, trials, his mother leaving and his father being miserable, had turned the boy into a man. A man that Harry suddenly had burned for with the power of a thousand suns. And when Draco had even given him an appraising look, Harry had almost fainted.
“I think Draco likes his old mom,” pondered George. “But the safe card would be to find a woman who looks like Narcissa. Blond.”
“She would also have to be insane…” muttered Ron.
“But still smart enough to peak his interest,” Hermione nervously played with her brown hair. “And pure-blood….”
Eight eyes turned to Luna.
“No,” she said, not sounding dreamy at all.
“It only has to be one date,” pleaded Harry. “If Lucius goes on a date, then I can take Draco out and then I can convince him to stay with me even if you and his father don’t get together.”
“No,” repeated Luna.
“I come with you on your expedition,” Harry breathed.
“You will?” Luna widened her wide eyes and showed him all her teeth.
Luna had asked Harry several times to come with her on her planned research expedition after graduation. She was planning to be the next female Newt Scaramander and write the groundbreaking new book on magical beasts and creatures (even those who only seemed to exist in her head).
“Yes,” Harry pleaded, the thought of wading though swamps looking for Heffalumps or whatever, was not so horrible if he knew Draco would be waiting for him when he got home.
“Deal!” Luna held out her hand to him. “I will get your future boyfriend’s father laid.”
“Deal,” Harry shook it.
-----------<----@
Sitting in the Great Hall listening to Headmaster Snape rasping out a welcome speech, spiced with threats and insults, Harry examined the teachers. Slughorn was still there, looking like an overweight walrus. Lockhart stared out into space with naïve and empty eyes, but sporting a smile that made the female populace of the Hall sigh from time to time. The table seemed so bare without McGonagall’s presence, but the other new addition to the staff made up for any intimidation she would have exuded.
Lucius Malfoy looked like he was wishing to go on a murderous rampage and hang all his victims’ heads from the Astronomy Tower like popcorns on a string. Harry could not help but to shiver, he was taking advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts this year. Not that he needed it; Harry could teach the class himself if he was certified, but to get certified he must take the class. Not that he ever wanted to teach DADA, but still.
He glanced over to the Slytherin table and the only three persons coming back for their last year. Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy. Draco was staring at his father with great concern. He looked ready to jump up and defend the entire school if Lucius suddenly should snap. Harry smiled at the sight; he decided to write a new letter telling Draco about their plans to set up his father with Luna.
“Poor Malfoy,” sighed Hermione beside him.
“Draco can handle himself,” Harry was already halfway gone in fantasies involving naked pale limbs, cream and a wand-less binding spell.
“I meant Professor Malfoy,” Hermione had a sad look on her face. “He looks so heartbroken.”
Both Harry and Ron looked over at the blond professor. Lucius was glaring at Lockhart like the man’s severed skull would make a excellent table lamp.
“Yes,” murmured Ron. “Heartbroken…”
“I’m going to owe Luna so much more than an expedition.” Harry looked over to the Ravenclaw table were Luna actually appeared a little pale. “We can’t do this to her.”
“Don’t worry, mate,” Ron dug in to the Sheppard’s pie that had just appeared before them. “It is just going to one date, and then Luna can dump him.”
“Poor Professor Malfoy,” Hermione sighed,
-------------<-----@
Harry actually felt a little scared as he walked in to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. There were only five other eight years taking the advanced course. Draco Malfoy was one of them; he was standing as far away from his father as he could. The other four were Dean Thomas, Ernie McMillan, Terry Boot and Padma Patil, all of whom were Aurors to be.
For himself, Harry was not sure what he wanted to do when he graduated. He had thought about being a curse-breaker like Bill, but was not sure. Quiddich could be fun, but not with the pressure that came from being a professional. Anyway, he did not have to make a decision until after New Year, and that was four months away. He glanced over at Draco; at least Harry knew what he wanted now.
“Class…” drawled Lucius and sounded like the word stung in his mouth. “Duelling is a noble and ancient art. It is preformed with control, knowledge, imagination and grace. Something I have seen some of you lacking…”
His eyes darted to Harry and narrowed. Harry swallowed. Lucius was about to say something more but was interrupted by the door opening. Luna Lovegood walked in with a nervous look on her normally calm face.
“Yes?” Lucius turned to her with a frown.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Professor,” she smiled.
“Are you taking this class, Lovegood? You are not on my list.”
“I changed classes,” Luna stepped forward holding out a note. “Headmaster Snape said it was fine.”
Harry noticed that she let her fingers brush against Lucius’s as he took the note from her. The professor twitched a little and then looked down at the note. Two seconds later his features changed from irritated to an evil grin. Lucius looked up at Harry, and that did not mean good things were coming.
“Mr Potter,” he almost purred. “It seems that we now have an uneven number of students. You will have to partner with me.”
“Father!” gasped Draco from his corner.
“That is Professor Malfoy, Mr. Malfoy,” Lucius shot an irritated glance at his son. “You pair with Miss Lovegood, here.”
Luna gave Harry shrug of her shoulders and wandered of to Draco.
“Now,” Lucius twirled his cane like a baton before him. “As I was saying… control, knowledge, imagination and grace. The way you move can often be as effective as a spell cast. For example… Stupify!
He cast the spell right at Harry’s chest. Harry reacted immediately with blocking it and then casting the spell back to Lucius. The professor simply stepped to the side, letting the magic hit the stone wall behind him and then continued to hex Terry Boot with a light Sting. Terry shrieked. The class gasped. Harry looked to Terry and Lucius hit him with a Tripping-spell. Harry fell to the floor, shaking with a sudden onset of anger and adrenaline. He jumped to his feet holding his wand out waiting for another attack.
“Mr. Potter has just shown us the blunt way of duelling,” Lucius leered. “The correct way would have been to anticipate which way I was going to move and then saved his friend. Whom I’m unfortunate to say is dead. Mr. Boot, you should not assume you are not in the fight just because you are not doing the duelling.”
“That’s a dirty trick!” huffed Harry, calming down a little.
“And if I was the Auror and you the criminal, Mr. Potter?” Lucius stepped closer, making Harry clench his wand harder. “Would you use this dirty trick to apprehend two criminals, or would you exhaust yourself in battling one while the other got away? Or hit you from behind?”
Harry looked away. Lucius smiled triumphantly. Draco laughed.
------<-----@
“Potter!”
Harry and Ron were standing outside the Great Hall waiting for Hermione to join them for dinner. He turned at the sound of Draco’s voice. He scowled a bit when he saw Draco approaching him, hand in hand with Pansy Parkinson. Ron also tensed at the sight.
“Potter…” Draco looked a little uncharacteristically unsure. “Did you mean what you said in that letter? That you wanted…”
“I don’t know…” Harry looked down at Draco’s and Pansy’s joined hands. “Not if you are taken…”
“Oh,” the blond smirked and glanced at Pansy. “It’s not…
“My parents…” started the girl but her voice broke; Harry noted her red and glossy eyes.
“Father is adopting Pansy, since she is alone now…” Draco pulled the girl closer as tears began to fall down her cheeks. “He wanted us to marry, but…” He and Pansy snorted in unison.
“I’m sorry…” Harry felt awful for suspecting the girl.
He was going to say more but he was interrupted by Hermione running towards them, dragging Luna behind her by the hand. Hermione looked ecstatic, Luna looked a little puzzled.
“Harry!” Hermione’s happy voice echoed through the Entrance Hall. “Harry! Luna got detention with professor Malfoy! Well… We got detention. Me too, but still!” she nearly jumped with excitement. “I… I mean, we let out all the moths and flies he was going to use for target practice with the third years tomorrow. The room is full of them… oh. Hi Malfoy.”
“Granger,” Draco raised an eyebrow.
They stood a couple of moments just looking at each other, well; Luna looked at the dust floating in the sunbeams of the sunset coming in through the high windows. Harry felt tense and nervous so close to Draco. He bit his lip.
“Why…?” began Draco.
“We are setting your dad up with Luna,” blurted Harry.
Draco began to cough, Pansy just looked more shocked.
“It’s fine!” smiled Luna reassuringly. “I don’t mind. He is hot and I’m not a virgin.”
This made Harry, Hermione and Ron cough and splurt too. Draco seemed to have an aneurism.
“Merlin, Luna!” breathed Harry. “I only want you to date him so he will be happy, and then Draco won’t have to worry when I… oh... err…” he glanced at the pale object of his affection.
“I won’t make him fall in love with me, Harry,” objected Luna in a calm voice, her eyes still fixed on the sun dust. “I am not in love with him. He is already heartbroken because of his wife leaving. If we make it about sex then nobody needs to be hurt. I can be his re-bound girl.”
The five other just stared at her. Harry felt really bad. It felt like he was solicitating his friend. What kind of friend was he, expecting her to sleep with Lucius? He turned back to Draco who still was quite pale, still holding on to Pansy.
“You…” Draco swallowed and shifted his silver eyes to Harry. “You are making your friend sleep with my father so that I will date you?”
“It…” Harry tore away from gawking at his feet. “I mean… I… Is it working?”
“Lovegood makes sense, amazingly enough,” Draco shook his head and exchanged a look with Pansy, who gave a minuscule nod. “Father needs to get on with his life… And I with mine…” He took a breath and pulled himself together in an aristocratic pose. “You can escort me and Pansy to Hogsmeade this weekend. We have some shopping to do and the shopkeepers will be nicer to us if we‘re with you.”
“Thank you,” smiled Harry.
“Excuse us,” Draco sighed. “I and my sister are going to dinner.”
Harry moved a little so they could pass to the Great Hall. Ron suddenly desperately pulled on his arm.
“Wait, Malfoy!” Harry called out as Draco opened the door. “Can Ron come too?”
“Whatever,” murmured Draco and pulled his new sister with him into the hall.
Harry smiled; he had seen the mirth in Draco’s eyes.
--------<------@
Lucius Malfoy had known three things for certain for quite some time now. It was only in his ministry cell awaiting his final trial that he admitted to himself that they where true.
First of, his Lord had been utterly and certifiably mad. Lucius had followed this madman for more than half his life. He had done this partly because of fear, partly because of habit and mostly because some of the madness had made sense at the time. Now it was just madness, Lucius accepted this.
Second, he was going to loose his wife. He had his suspicions about this ever since he, as a thirteen-year-old, had signed the marriage contract to a rather sulky eleven-year-old girl. His own father and Narcissa’s had shook hands and that was that. During the years he and Narcissa had grown to respect and care for each other, but they had never been in love. After Draco had been conceived, sex had only been occasional and only to ‘scratch the itch’, so to say. Now Narcissa had a chance to find her own life. Lucius accepted this.
Third, Draco was going to disown him. The boy’s only chance for a somewhat decent life was to turn away from his father, to denounce everything that was Lucius Malfoy. Draco had it on his shoulders to start rebuilding the family-name. It was a hard task for a boy of only eighteen, but Lucius was sure Draco could do it. He loved his son more than anything he ever pretended to love more. Now Draco was going to leave him. Lucius did not accept this.
During his trial he had apologised to Severus and made sure the man knew that they were still friends and no grudges where held. Severus, still very pale and heavily bandaged had given him such a grateful smile that the entire courtroom had been at a loss for several minutes. Severus Snape did not smile like that, even Lucius had been a little shocked but happy none the less.
From there it had not been hard to convince Kingsley Shacklebolt that the worst thing that could happen to a Malfoy was an honest day’s work. Lucius smiled at the memory, he still got his manipulation-skills that had taken him to heights both in politics and within the Death Eaters. So he scowled, he sneered, and he glared (which was not hard considering ha had to sit next to Lockhart at the High Table), but inside he revelled. He was going to win his son back, no matter what it took. And if that took teaching children how to handle boggarts, he would do it.
Dinner this evening had been a trial. Lockhart had had a memory-laps and thought that Lucius was a former lover of his. Lucius had to suffer being called ‘sweetheart’ though the entire meal and even been force fed a spoonful of desert before George Weasley had arrived in a flush and removed the amours idiot. Only a two months earlier Lockhart would have found himself a pile of smoking ash. Lucius clenched his wand as he moved though the corridor toward his office and the two girls he had sent for detention.
He stopped abruptly as he heard the Mud… use the new vocabulary, Malfoy! Muggle-born Granger girl’s voice around the corner.
“Is it true that you are not a virgin?” she asked.
“Yes,” the Lovegood-girl answered in her irritatingly aloof tone.
“What…” Granger seemed to hesitate and swallow. “What’s it like?” Embarrassment flooded her voice.
“Wizards or witches?”
Lucius decided to lean against the wall and let the conversation take its course. It was not that he wanted to know about the young girl’s sex life, but he did always welcome new knowledge. He was aware that he was going to spend the rest of his life teaching teenagers, and an insight to their minds could not hurt. He had only ever had sex with Narcissa, and that had been limited too. His own teenage years had been cursed by his virginity while waiting for his wedding night. He had been almost twenty when Narcissa finally graduated school.
“I like boys,” Granger said after she seemed to recover from a small chock. “But I would like to hear about the witch sex later... I researched everything I could find about wizard sex when I found out Harry was gay. He did not say as much but I know he was very grateful. He took copies of all my notes.”
“Oh,” Lovegood laughed. “Draco is in for it then.”
“I know!” giggled Hermione. “He is over the moon now that Malfoy agreed to a date.”
Lucius felt his heart in his throat. His son. His only son. That’s why he didn’t want to marry Pansy. Lucius had thought it was because the girl really was like a sister, or not just Draco’s type. Potter had asked Draco out and Draco had accepted. And Potter had a pile of notes with wizard sex. Potter…
Lucius Malfoy’s politically calculating mind raced. Potter was power. Potter was influence. Potter was a boy… Never mind. This was an opportunity not to be turned away. He felt curiously proud. He had but forgotten about the girls, until he caught his own name.
“Poor Professor Malfoy,” sighed Granger. “I feel bad for him.”
“Do you want to have him instead?” asked Lovegood lightly. “I really don’t mind. I’ve always preferred dark hair on a man myself.”
“I… What… I…” Granger splurted as Lucius got his second chock in as many minutes. “He would never want me! I’m… I’m a muggleborn. I have frizzy hair and it’s brown. And I’m not pretty, like you… or…”
“You like him.”
“I… I do… but…” she trailed of.
“I think you are pretty,” said Lovegood. “I think you should go for it.”
Lucius had heard enough. Stepping out from his hiding place he faced the two girls sitting on the floor outside his office. Both looked at him like he was a Dementor. He decided to stay calm and pretend like he had not heard what they had been talking about. His mind reeled though.
“Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood,” he forced himself to hide his emotions (not hard since these where teenage girls and his emotion-hiding-skills where trained by Voldemort). “You are to replace every single insect that you liberated. If you are not finished by nine o clock you will have detention tomorrow as well. Here is a list of species I want.”
He held out a parchment he written earlier. Granger got to her feet and took it with shaking hands. She did not meet his eyes. Lucius narrowed his eyes at her. She was pretty. The thought made him scowl. He left in a flair of robes, he needed a drink. A large one.
-------<----@
The Saturday morning had been quite enjoyable for Draco. He had had a nice breakfast and did only receive two hexes (one itching and one stinging) and there had been no salt in his tea. Any day starting without heaving in boy’s toilet was a good day in Draco’s book. He wondered when it had gotten to this - he had after all only been back to Hogwarts for a week. Pansy was merely hit by a bad-hair-day-jinx, but she covered it gracefully with a very green and cute cap. A quite bearable morning, indeed.
Potter and Weasley had saved them from being ambushed on the way to Hogsmeade. Their would-be assailants did not seem too disappointed though. Draco was a little worried that Potter’s and Weasley’s offer to protect him and Pansy was a setup for a bigger humiliation. He was grateful that both his father and godfather held such powerful positions at the school, it kept some of the worst heat away. But Potter and Weasley were known to not follow the rules, and to not be scared of neither Snape nor Lucius.
After two hours of shopping Draco’s mind was a little more at ease. Potter and Weasley had kindly accompanied him and Pansy while they made their shopping. Neither of the Gryffindors had been good in giving advice on purchases, but both Draco and Pansy agreed that they were very sweet in trying. Draco had even been able to persuade Potter not to buy a blue plaid shirt, and if that was not his heroic act of the century - he did not know what was.
Potter had been fulfilling his self acclaimed bodyguard duties as well. He had diverted three spells from hitting Draco and he had also lectured not more than five groups of people on the morals and ethics of the post-war world. Weasley was blunter, and had forcefully throttled a adult fat wizard calling Pansy by an obscene name. Potter had to save the fat wizard as well, but he was not as heroic doing so as in saving Draco. All in all, it had been a good morning.
The first obstacle came when Weasley and Potter wanted to take tea. There was a slight discussion where they should go. Draco had apologised to Madame Rosmerta, but he still did not feel comfortable to go to The Three Broomsticks. The Hogs Head would be suicide, even Potter understood that. The new coffee shop, Witch Brew, was too crowded and the pub, The Moon And Tackle, did not serve students. They could go to the restaurant, Chez Cochon, but that was sadly enough out of the Gryffindors’ league. That left them with Madam Puddifoot’s café.
Draco was apprehensive as soon as he entered the Hufflepuff territory. He did not like the pink walls, or the abundance of flowers or pictures of small baby animals. To his relief; Potter and Weasley seemed just as uncomfortable and him and Pansy. But they all soldiered on and choose a table by the window. A waitress came forward to take their orders.
“What do you want?” asked Potter. “My treat.”
“We’ll have what you are having,” said Pansy busy organising her shrunken purchases in her purse.
“Same for me,” said Weasley.
The redhead was still quite red after enduring a quarter of an hour in the women’s underwear department at Gladrags. Pansy and Draco had enjoyed watching him suffer, while Potter just had looked bored the entire time. The only time he peaked up was when Pansy jokingly had held up a ruffled silk petticoat against Draco. Draco did not know if he should be worried over this or not.
“Potter…” said Draco hesitantly.
“Yes?” Potter smiled curiously at him.
“The letter you sent me…” he let his trained face turn coy “…did you mean what you said?”
“What?” Potter looked confused..
“That you wanted to date me?” Draco looked away shyly, ignoring Pansy rolling her eyes.
“Of course I did…” Potter placed his hand on Draco’s. “I… I…”
“Do you like me, Potter…” he abruptly ended the act and looked straight into Potter’s surprised green eyes. “Or do you just want to fuck me?”
Potter was still spluting nonsense, and Weasley was redder then ever, as the waitress returned with their orders, four hot chocolates and four pieces of cheesecake. Draco noticed immediately that she was careful to place the plates and cups in a certain order before she left. He and Pansy exchanged a look over the table. Trouble was coming.
“Can’t I want both?” Potter finally managed with a rather squeaky voice that was non-fitting a big time war hero.
“Certainly not!” Draco huffed, giving himself an indignant look and poking his cake with his fork. “If you just want to fuck me, all you have to do is ask me and I’ll give you a night fulfilling your deepest darkest kinkiest fantasy, but I’ll be gone in the morning.”
Potter began to splurt again. Draco really, really hoped that Potter’s deepest darkest kinkiest fantasy did not involve him dressing up as the Dark Lord, or Lucius.
“But if you want a relationship…” he looked to Weasley, nodding meaning to Pansy “…and this goes for you too: You have to ask our father first.”
“What!” Potter’s shout echoed though the room; turning every head to them (several of those heads were attached to faces looking hatefully at Draco). “That’s ridiculous!”
“It’s not,” Draco crossed his arms and pouted in a most adoring way. “Ask Weasley.”
“He is right, mate,” said Weasley nervously exchanging a glance with Pansy. “The oldest pureblood families have that tradition. We don’t… but Bill had to ask Fleur’s father…”
“Shit…” Potter looked down at the tempting cake on his plate, biting his lip. “Err…”
“What?” Draco was poking his own cake with his wand to figure out what the kitchen staff had done with it. “Spit it out, Potter.”
“If I ask your father… errr… are we still doing the fantasy thing?”
Draco almost dropped his wand. He was too shocked to speak. He had been so certain that Potter would choose the easy way out and go with the shag. To further his own chock along, he noticed too late that he was nodding. Merlin, please don’t make me put on that petticoat and spell away my nose.
“Ronald?” Pansy said narrowing her eyes. “Do you agree?”
“I… I guess so…” Weasley looked a little green over the prospect of asking Lucius Malfoy if he could date Pansy - after all, Pansy had only been a Malfoy for less than a week now.
“Sealed with a kiss,” Pansy kissed Weasley quickly on the lips and smiled as he went from green to red again.
Potter looked expectantly at Draco. Draco rolled his eyes, took his fork and cut a big chunk of his cake.
“Eat this,” he said, holding the piece of cake to Potter’s lips.
“What?”
“It is laced with whatever they want to poison me with,” Draco narrowed his eyes. “If you eat it, I know I can trust you.”
Without hesitation Potter opened up his mouth and let himself be fed. As Potter’s eyes began to water and his face frowned in a nauseated grimace, Draco knew without a doubt that he could fall in love with this man. The next moment he was struck with at least three different painful spells and the world went black.
---------<---------@
Hermione and Luna were standing in the small book section of the parchment store. It was nothing like Flourish and Bott’s, but then again what was? There were no school books, or any kind of non-fiction at all for that matter. To be honest, the single bookcase in the back of the store was devoted to romantic fiction. Hermione had never been there before, though she had often noticed giggling Hufflepuff girls standing close to it. Luna seemed familiar to the bookcase as well and had told Hermione that she needed some light reading.
“But I have the latest edition of ‘Hogwarts A History’,” protested Hermione.
“You wrote the latest edition of ‘Hogwarts A History’,” mused Luna and chose a book from the shelf displaying a bare breasted man holding a swooned woman in his arms.
“Did not,” Hermione tried not to look fascinated over the picture. “I merely gave the authors some advice so that the renderings would be correct.”
“Hm.” Luna continued to look at book covers. “Doesn’t he look like Professor Malfoy?”
“I’ve been thinking…” Hermione took the book and blushed a little over the scantly clad blond pirate. “Doesn’t it have to be you who… er… cheers him up? With your promise to Harry and all? That he was going with you on your expedition?”
“I said I was going to get the professor laid,” Luna moved on to the register with her small stack of books. “I never said with whom.”
Hermione took this in while she reluctantly paid for the pirate book. She could not deny that she was attracted to the older Malfoy, Draco had never done anything for her - he was just a snotty spoiled kid. But Lucius... She would never admit it to anyone but she had a box full of newspaper clippings about him hidden in her trunk.
And… She knew she was imagining things and over-interpreted them as well, but… During the war, when they had been caught by the snatchers and brought to the Malfoy Manor... While she was tortured by Bellatrix, Hermione had looked straight at Lucius. He had looked saddened, maybe even horrified. At least he had looked disgusted. Their eyes had held for a moment just before the pain had taken her over. She had lived on that look though the war. That look was the reason she approved Harry’s defence of the man in court and the fact that he now taught at their school.
As she and Luna exited the store the bumped into George and Professor Lockhart. Hermione narrowed her eyes at a blue collar around the professor’s neck. It matched perfectly to his blue robes and actually gave his handsome features some edge. Luna immediately began to talk to Lockhart about some creature that she either imagined or was going to eventually find. He boasted that he had already seen it.
“George?” Hermione gestured to the collar. “Isn’t that for pets?”
“What am I supposed to do?” George shrugged casually. “When he gets his episodes he usually gets himself lost. With this I can find him without constant tracking spells. And…” he leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “I think he likes it, he is actually quite kinky. He is constantly flirting with me.”
“Is he not getting better?” she blushed.
“He has therapy once a week,” George looked to Lockhart to see that he was still talking to Luna. “Snape has him on a potion treatment; we are on our way back for one now. He is getting better. But…”
“He has episodes?” Hermione filled in.
“Yes,” he looked a little sad. “He…” George quieted abruptly, looking over her shoulder.
Hermione turned to see what he was looking at. She also felt lost for words at that moment. Ron was walking towards them; he was carrying Malfoy on his back. The blond head rested unconsciously on his shoulder and limp arms were spelled to hold on to him. Next to him Harry was holding hands with Pansy Pa… Malfoy, she seemed to be leading him. Harry looked like a stubborn child. His face was red and swollen, tears running down his cheeks. He was holding a large lollipop in his mouth.
“What happened?!” she rushed forward in panic.
“The waitress put extra hot pepper in Malfoy’s cake,” said Ron shifting Malfoy’s weight on his back. “Harry ate it to prove himself worthy.”
“Harry!” Hermione shrieked running over to her friend. “How could you do something that stupid?”
“He can’t talk right now, Granger,” Pansy snickered.
“Ish wasch de write sching do doo,” said Harry around his lolly, looking quite proud of himself.
“And Malfoy?” asked George, stepping forward to help his brother with his burden.
“Everyone thought he had poisoned Harry,” Ron smirked. “So he was hit with at least three stunners, that I saw, and a toad-belcher. It was hilarious!”
“Hrm!” Pansy glared.
“It was horrible!” corrected Ron. “Those bastards. Bastards!” he shook his fist at a couple of fifth year Ravenclaws that were trying to pass by un-noticed.
“Anyway,” Pansy rolled her eyes. “We are going to the Three Broomsticks to use their floo to get to the infirmary.”
“I’ll go with you,” said George taking Malfoy on his own back. “Luna, can you take Gilderoy to Snape? He has some potions ready for him.”
“Sure,” Luna smiled broadly.
“It’s Gilderoy now, is it?” snickered Ron as he spelled Malfoy’s arms to hold on to George.
“Shut up.”
“I better come with… to report this to professor Malfoy,” said Hermione and tried not to blush or seem eager.
She ignored Luna’s wink.
-----------------<-----------@
Severus raised an eyebrow as Lovegood brought Lockhart into his office. He had been waiting for about ten minutes with the potions, but the tirade on lateness had to wait now. Lockhart gave him a nervous greeting and gave the bottles on the table a nervous glance.
“Where is Weasley?” Severus asked, directing Lockhart to a chair.
“He had to take Draco to the infirmary,” Lovegood was staring at something to the left of his head.
“What happened?” he kept calm but felt a little panic in his chest, Draco was probably the closest he would ever get to his own child, if he didn’t count Potter - and he never counted Potter!
“Oh, he is fine,” Lovegood was now looking at something right of his head. “Just a couple of stunners,” she mused.
He narrowed his eyes at her.
“How many is it today?” asked Lockhart, shifting nervously in his seat. “I’m a busy man, you know.”
“Five,” Severus muttered and held out the first bottle. “Hold this in your mouth and do not swallow until I say so, then immediately take this one.”
He watched on as Lockhart took the first potion and held it. He placed the next bottle in the man’s hands so it would warm up a little. Every time Lockhart exhaled though his nose a scent of rosemary spread around the room. Severus turned to Lovegood. He met her big blue eyes for a second before she looked to the left of him again.
“Are there wackspurts around my head, Miss Lovegood?” he asked amusedly.
She had written an essay for him on them once, and he read the Quibbler (they had a surprisingly good potions section.) He did not believe a word of her ramblings but he found it endearing that she had such an imagination. He had known her father in school; he had been a Ravenclaw, three years older than him. Xeno had always been mad, but brilliant. There was no surprise that his daughter was the same.
“Several,” she answered and blushed. “They like you.”
“Good to know…” he turned to Lockhart. “Swallow.”
Lockhart swallowed and drank the next bottle down. He gagged a little and coughed. Severus handed him the third vial.
“Slowly.”
“Is this wormwood, professor?” asked Lovegood taking up the first empty bottle and smelling it.
“Yes,” Severus was impressed, but hid it well under a scowl. “That is not in the curriculum, though. How did you know?”
“Oh,” she smiled and looked embarrassed, “I read your thesis…”
“Which one?” Severus roughly handed Lockhart the fourth vial.
“All of them, professor.”
“All?”
“Yes,” She began to play with her hair. “I found Dumbledore’s archive room in the forth tower when I was looking for Geebogacks, they like the smell of parchments you know.”
“I didn’t know,” he handed over the last bottle to Lockhart. What archive? He did not know of any archive!
“They do,” Lovegood continued, curling her distractingly shiny hair around her fingers. “I go there to read. It is nice.”
“Can you show it to me?” I’m going to regret this
“Sure,” she beamed.
-----------------------<----------------@
Hermione stood in front of the portrait of Vald the Impaler and hesitated, the vampire leered at her. Pansy had given her the password to Lucius’ chambers. She shifted the weight on her feet. She could just send her patronus though the door and let it give the message of Draco’s condition to Lucius. But… But her patronus was a wild and dancing otter, it was not dignified enough.
“Vat you vant, little girl?” said the handsome vampire showing his fangs in a sharp smile. “Passvort?”
She was a little surprised that they had chosen Dracula to guard Lucius’ rooms. But then again Lucius was the Defence Against Dark Arts Professor, and Vlad was the most famous vampire ever. Hermione took a deep breath.
“Serpus Magna”
“Entar,” the portrait swung open.
The room she stepped I to reminded her about a mix between pictures she seen from Versailles, Snape’s office, a library and… something like her own home. She looked curiously around, trying to find out what that familiar feeling was. Lucius Malfoy was not in the room. Hermione could hear water running from a door further of. Oh my god, he is showering!
She was just going to run out when her eye was caught by the bookshelves. Books and pamphlets, leather bound, gold printed titles, old as sin. She could never get an opportunity like this again. Carefully, with one eye and ear to the bathroom door, she approached the shelves. Lucius liked to read. Many of these books must have come from Malfoy manor. She blinked as she saw a clearly new book among the old ones, Hogwarts A History - re-edited by Hermione Granger. She passed over her own name with the tip of her finger, feeling a strange surge of joy - though she knew he only had the book to familiarize with his new workplace.
Her eyes wandered along the other books, noticing names, titles and authors. A small book no bigger than a book of psalms caught her interest. It was bound in light brown leather, cracked with age, its title worn away by time. She reached out to take it, but stopped just short of an inch. The book was old, ancient even. It would be fragile. She bit her lower lip, looking to the bathroom - the water was still flowing.
Carefully Hermione took out her wand and transfigured her handkerchief to a rubber glove. She put the glove on her left hand. Gently she pulled the small book out. Its covers were like paper. She used her wand to slowly turn the pages. 1648, she read the print on the first page. The print was old gothic, round, beautiful, intricate letters. It seemed to be a book of spells and charms, but all written in poetic verse. The language seemed to be a combination of Latin, Gaelic and… was that Greek? She frowned, trying to decipher the letters; she had just begun to learn Greek, and that was with modern letters.
“Hrm?”
Hermione jumped at the sound and gave out a small shriek. She had been so consumed by the book to notice Lucius Malfoy standing right behind her… wearing only a green silk bathrobe.
“Professor!” she breathed. “I… I…”
“Yes?” he looked down at her sternly; he had a white towel over his shoulders, preventing his long hair to wet his robe.
“Draco is in the infirmary, sir,” she breathed.
“Could not be urgent,” he raised a worried brow. “Otherwise you would have come to me directly, and not prowl into my books.”
“I was not prowling…” Hermione protested haughtily.
“No,” Lucius looked at her gloved hand holding the old book. “You actually show consideration…” He met her eyes again, suddenly stern. “What has happened to Draco?”
“A couple of stunners…” she closed the book and carefully reinserted it in its place on the shelf. “He is fine, sir, but he needs to spend the night. He got hit with a toad-belcher and a confundus too.”
Lucius nodded, walking over to his wardrobe. Hermione could not move, seeing how the slick cloth moved over his strong back. He could be your father! a voice in her head screamed. No, my father is thirty nine years older than me, Professor Malfoy is only twenty six years older! she answered firmly. The logical part of her brain did an eye roll. Fine, but if you make a move, and against all odds it works… you will be Draco Malfoy’s mother! the icy voice of reason echoed though her head. But he smells really good…
“I am going to get dressed now,” informed Lucius giving her a stern look. “Thank you for…”
“I’m a muggleborn,” she splurted, not knowing what she was doing.
“I am aware of that,” he took a breath and walked up to her with a surprisingly kind face. “Look, Miss Granger. I am aware that I was… prejudged in the past. You do not have to be afraid of me anymore. I am your teacher now and I am… trying to reconcile my… shortcomings in this new world…”
Before her brain could think of more good excuses Hermione raised a little to her toes and kissed him. She panicked and pressed her open mouth against his closed. Lucius just stood still. Hermione backed away, tears in her eyes.
“It’s my hair, right?” she sobbed.
She was feeling confused, embarrassed and hurt. Lucius licked his lips, looking her over. His face was closed in the same Malfoy Mask that she had seen so many times on Draco’s face when ever he was plotting evil things against Harry. She sobbed again, stepping back.
“Miss Granger…”
“No, sir. I’m sorry…” she moved to the door, fingers to her lips and tears running down her face. “I’m so sorry.”
Vlad The Impalor grinned after her as she ran away; a smile not unlike the one on Lucius Malfoy’s face as he walked over to his wardrobe.
-------------------------<----------------@
George collected Gilderoy from professor Snape. He had delivered Draco to the infirmary. Ron and Pansy had stayed behind in the Three Broomsticks, something about not having eaten, but George suspected that his little brother wanted some time alone with the girl.
Snape had been talking to Luna when George arrived. He had noticed the way Luna was glancing at Snape when the other man looked away. George had given her a small smile. She and Fred had had a thing. Fred had been ready to propose to her when the war was over. Sadly, that was not to be. George could not take Fred’s place, it would not be fair for anyone. He sighed as he and Gilderoy walked towards their office.
“How are you?” Gilderoy looked his way.
George glanced up. It was rare that Gilderoy Lockhart cared about anyone else than Gilderoy Lockhart. He wondered if it was a trick, so that George should ask the question back. He did not really mind.
“I miss my brother,” he answered. “My twin, Fred. He died in the war…”
“I’m sad to hear that…” Gilderoy looked honest enough. “I don’t have a brother,” he mused, George smiled. “I got a sister, three years younger than me. Lorretta, her name is. She makes cheese… Talks to goats… Almost married a horse once… but that was just because her fiancé convinced her that he was a Animagus and tried to run away. She caught him in the end though… hunted him down on that very horse…”
George laughed out loud. Gilderoy smiled at him and continued to talk about his crazy sister.
------------------------------<-------------@
part2 and pictures