"Draco!" Lucius called angrily, as he strode into the drawing room. "Will you please remove your Potions work from the dining table? Nippy is just about to lay the table for lunch, and I have no desire to eat while looking at jars of newts' testicles, or whatever they are."

Draco looked up from his book.

"Sorry, Father," he replied easily. "I meant to move them earlier, but I got distracted. I'll take them back to the lab now."

He walked out of the room with a sunny smile on his face, leaving his father staring after him with growing suspicion. Lucius turned to Narcissa, who was working on an embroidery, her wand deftly directing the needle across the cloth.

"What is your son up to now?" he asked.

Narcissa sniffed but did not look up from her work.

"If Draco is up to anything, then I can assure you he is your son, not mine. As it happens, however, he is not up to anything. Surely you have realised what his changing moods lately have indicated."

Lucius scratched his chin and considered. He hadn't really noticed anything about Draco recently, but his own business dealings had been keeping his mind firmly occupied.

Narcissa had stopped her embroidering now and was looking at him expectantly. Lucius shook his head.

"He has seemed quite normal to me."

Narcissa sighed.

"It began a little over a month ago," she said. "At first, he was in a state of considerable agitation, practically pouncing on every owl that arrived for him, and going out on several evenings, dressed up to the nines and looking as if he was about to be sick. After about a fortnight, he calmed down and has been getting steadily happier every day."

At this point, Draco passed the open door, carrying an armful of bottles and jars, and humming. Lucius frowned after him and turned back to Narcissa.

"And what conclusions have you drawn from all this?" he asked.

Narcissa gave him a cold stare and pursed her lips.

"I find it very sad that you appear to have forgotten just how happy being in love can make one." She paused and then added, "Or maybe you never knew in the first place."

The sound of humming passed the door again, as Draco returned for the rest of his Potions work. Lucius ignored it.

"You think he's in love?"

"It's rather obvious," Narcissa said, still more coldly. "At least to anyone who is familiar with the emotion."

Draco had, by now, progressed to singing, and Lucius winced. His son's voice was not in the least tuneful, and he shut the drawing room door firmly.

"Cissa," he said cajolingly, "of course I remember what being in love is like. I was extremely happy when we first got together."

Narcissa's lips pursed even more.

"I still am happy," Lucius continued hurriedly. "Very much so. You, er, light up my life."

He beamed at her, but Narcissa's expression did not change, and his smile faltered a little. Lucius had the feeling he had not been terribly convincing.

He reached forward to take her hand, and received a sharp jab from her needle. Cursing, he withdrew to a safe distance and tried a different approach.

"Now look here, Cissa, we don't need all that silly romantic frippery. We have a good, solid, comfortable marriage that has moved beyond the adolescent nonsense of –"

"Poems?" Narcissa put in pointedly. "You used to write me poems."

"Oh, er, did I?" Lucius said uneasily. He had hoped she had forgotten the poems. Poetry was not one of his talents. He changed the subject firmly "Anyway, about Draco... You think he's serious about his... inamorata?"

Narcissa gave him a look that told him he was not off the hook.

"I think he is extremely serious, and I suggest we had better find out just who he is courting fairly quickly."

"Why?"

"Because otherwise it is likely that the first time we meet the girl will be when they announce their engagement. And whilst Draco's happiness is, of course, our first concern, it is as well to be sure that she is the right sort." She sighed tragically. "It is the first time he has ever kept secrets from me."

"Have you tried asking him?" Lucius asked, secretly doubting that Draco had ever been completely open with his mother.

"I asked him casually yesterday whether he had met anyone special, and he denied it, wearing an extremely dreamy and faraway expression at the time. However, I have a plan which will help us to discover the girl's identity."

You have a plan? Lucius thought, a sinking feeling spreading through him. Merlin help us all.



The first evidence of Narcissa's plan being put into operation came a few days later, when the Greengrasses and Pansy Parkinson were invited over for dinner. This would give them, Narcissa explained as they were dressing for dinner, the opportunity of closely observing Draco's interactions with the three girls. Narcissa was confident that their son would not be able to keep his feelings entirely to himself when in the presence of his beloved. Lucius was not as confident as his wife on this point, but he kept his opinions to himself and merely asked what they would do if it proved that none of the three young ladies dining at the Manor that evening was the future Mrs Malfoy.

"In that case," Narcissa replied, examining herself carefully in the mirror, "we cross three names off our list and move on to other possibilities."

Lucius mentally totted up the likely costs of wining and dining all the eligible young women in Wizarding Britain, and shuddered. Narcissa eyed him in the mirror, correctly divining his thoughts.

"They will not all have to come to the Manor in order to be scrutinised," she explained patiently. "There are several functions coming up which I expect everyone who is anyone will attend." She turned and glided gracefully to the door. "And who knows, dear, perhaps we shall find out who Draco is in love with tonight."



Later that evening, when the guests had departed, Lucius retired thankfully to his study. He loathed Mr and Mrs Greengrass, and had experienced considerable relief when it became apparent that neither of the Misses Greengrass would be moving into the Manor. Pansy he had never seriously considered for a moment. She and Draco had been friends all their lives and he had never seen any sign of a more-than-friendly affection between them. The dynamics of the dinner party had been interesting, though, at least as far as the younger generation went.

Draco and Pansy had gossiped and argued together as they always had done, only sporadically remembering the presence of the others. Astoria clearly had ambitions of being the next Mrs Malfoy, but Draco, on the three occasions he appeared to notice her, treated her like the annoying younger sister of a not-very-close school friend. Which was, Lucius reflected, exactly what she was. The really interesting revelation had come from Daphne, who had eyes only for Pansy. Sadly for Daphne, the feeling was neither acknowledged not reciprocated. Still, it was interesting, and spared Draco the potential of at least one predator.

Lucius silently toasted his son's good taste in not wanting to court either of the Greengrass girls, especially Astoria. She reminded him all too forcibly of her mother, and anything would be better than having Mrs Greengrass as an in-law. Lucius had not forgiven her for trying to seduce him twenty years earlier.



The next evening, Draco returned with his lover to his lover's flat, both of them shedding clothes as soon as they stumbled out of the Floo.

"Oh Merlin, Harry," Draco gasped, as his neck was attacked with gusto. "I never thought dinner with Granger and Weasley would leave me so horny."

"I told you... I'd reward you," Harry replied, between bite and suck, "if you behaved yourself. Thanks for being... so nice... to them."

Draco collapsed onto the sofa with a groan, taking Harry with him.

"It was miles better than dinner last night," he said, working his hand under Harry's shirt. "Pansy's good fun, but Astoria Greengrass –"

Harry's head shot up and his eyes narrowed.

"Do you mean that tarty little bint who's always making eyes at you?" he asked.

Draco smiled saucily up at him.

"The very one. Why, Harry, you're surely not jealous of her?"

He squeaked (in a very manly way, of course) as Harry almost ripped the rest of his clothing off. Once they were both naked, Harry lowered himself onto Draco to the tune of twin sighs of pleasure.

"I'm not in the least jealous of Astoria Greengrass," Harry remarked, as he began to thrust against Draco, their cocks rubbing together with a delicious amount of friction.

"Could have fooled me," Draco replied breathily, wrapping his legs around Harry's waist.

"She doesn't have what I have," Harry said. He leaned down and took Draco's mouth in a deep wet kiss. "I just don't like her trying to poach on my property," he finished when they broke apart for air.

Draco laughed a little hysterically, moving more frantically against Harry as his climax approached.

"Possessive bastard," he managed.

"You love it, don't you?" Harry ground out against Draco's throat, reaching between them to squeeze both their cocks.

"Oh, yes, Harry!" Draco cried, leading the wild tumble over the edge into orgasm, and unintentionally answering Harry's question.



A few days later, Lucius and Narcissa paused in the quest for the name of Draco's girlfriend to indulge in their own romantic interlude. It was Lucius' idea, one he hoped would get him back in his wife's good books, since she had not altogether forgiven him for his dismissal of romance. They were therefore sitting at the best table in a prohibitively expensive restaurant, surrounded by flowers and candles and other unnecessary (in Lucius' opinion) decorations. Narcissa had been bemoaning for the past twenty minutes the failure of her latest episode in The Plan.

"I really had no idea that Draco was on such bad terms with Millicent Bulstrode," she said again. "I mean, how could I? Draco never mentioned anything."

Lucius did recall one occasion on which Draco had referred to "that pernicious cow Bulstrode," but he decided not to mention it.

"Never mind, Cissa," he said soothingly. "At least you have another name to cross off your list, and you can move on to your next... er, possibility." He had nearly said 'victim'.

Narcissa brightened.

"Oh yes, there's the annual Ministry Gala in a couple of days. We should be able to find out something then. Everyone will be there; it is inconceivable that Draco's intended won't."

It had been on the tip of Lucius' tongue for the past several days to suggest that they should just ask Draco who he was seeing, but Narcissa seemed to be having such fun that he hadn't had the heart. Privately, he thought that, if asked outright, Draco would have to tell the truth; subtle questions, such as Narcissa had tried on him before, can be given subtle answers; bold questions, especially if unexpected, are more likely to elicit the truth.

Lucius shook off his idle speculations to see Narcissa smiling expectantly at him. He patted her hand and asked,

"What is it, dear?"

"Don't you have something for me?" she asked.

Lucius frowned slightly.

"I gave you the diamond brooch," he said, slightly puzzled and more than a little alarmed.

Narcissa stopped smiling and there was a cold pause.

"No poem?" she asked grimly.

Oh shit, Lucius thought. He wouldn't be getting lucky tonight.



On the other side of London, in a relatively quiet Muggle club, Draco and Harry were wrapped in each other's arms, swaying to the music of a slow romantic song.

"I don't know what Mother thinks she's playing at," Draco mumbled into Harry's shoulder. "I suppose she's trying to entice me into marrying some eligible pureblood witch, but, really..." He shuddered and lifted his head. "Millicent Bulstrode. That's going too far, even if I wasn't gay."

Harry smiled rather stiffly.

"Well, you can't really blame your mother. After all, she doesn't know you're already spoken for." His arms tightened around Draco unconsciously.

"I thought she had more sense than to invite Bulstrode to dinner, though," Draco continued, returning his head to its previous position on Harry's shoulder.

"You could always tell your parents about us," Harry suggested, his voice unnaturally casual.

Draco chuckled.

"And you know how well that would go down, don't you? Father would probably challenge you to a duel. At the Ministry Gala, perhaps, in front of the entire Wizarding World." He smiled at Harry and kissed his jaw. "Haven't you had enough of battling wicked wizards?"

Harry didn't answer, and they subsided into silence again, continuing their slow comfortable swaying around the dance floor.



The Ministry's Annual Gala seemed to get bigger and brighter with each year that passed. As Narcissa had said, everyone, was there, and making sure that everyone else was aware of it. Lucius was astonished at the sheer number of eligible young women Narcissa managed to find to parade in front of Draco. Most of the names he recognised he was convinced belonged to girls he hadn't seen since they were small children, and they all looked remarkably similar. He was just bemoaning to an elderly member of the Wizengamot the lamentable modern fashions that the young adhered to, when he was aware of someone quite different approaching.

"Malfoy," Harry Potter said in greeting, fortunately addressing Draco rather than Lucius.

"Potter," Draco replied.

They were silent for a moment and Lucius studied Potter's face. His eyes were very dark, and he wore an expression that was rather enigmatic, though not unfriendly. Finally, Potter gestured at their surroundings.

"Quite a gathering, isn't it?"

"Indeed," Draco replied, that same enigmatic expression crossing his face. "I understand Granger is partly responsible for this year's festivities. No wonder it seems better organised than usual."

Potter looked amused.

"I'm sure she'll be delighted to know that you approve of what she's done with it."

"And I hear Weasley has just been promoted," Draco continued blandly. "Not before time."

Potter's smile grew.

"Have you been taking happy potions? All these compliments aren't like you at all."

Draco looked him full in the face and one eyebrow twitched upwards very slightly.

"It's entirely selfish, I assure you. Someone told me that complimenting others can bring... benefits."

Potter laughed.

"I'm sure it will. But don't you have any compliments for me?"

Draco looked him up and down slowly.

"You're looking very... heroic tonight, Potter. You'd better make sure Miss Weasley doesn't decide to chuck Longbottom and drag you up the aisle instead."

Potter shook his head, still grinning.

"I don't think she will." He stepped back. "Well, I'd better go and find myself something heroic to occupy myself, hadn't I?" Turning to leave, he threw one last remark over his shoulder. "Taming dragons, perhaps."

It had been a decidedly odd encounter, Lucius thought to himself. Though, as Narcissa had remarked earlier, it was a relief that Draco and Potter were no longer on unfriendly terms. Brawling with the Wizarding World's darling was not the best way to rehabilitate a slightly tarnished name.

There was very little else of any particular interest that occurred that evening, with the exception of Daphne Greengrass' tearful and drunken professions of love to a hostile Pansy. Fortunately, Mrs Greengrass removed her daughter before she could cause too much of a scene. Astoria had followed Draco around for most of the evening like a love-sick sheep, but he ignored her and she was too much in awe of him to attempt anything more than silent adoration. Lucius glowered at her every time she passed him, silently willing her to trip and fall flat on her face.

At the end of the evening Lucius and Narcissa returned to the Manor alone. Draco had disappeared a little while before with Pansy, muttering something about a club. Narcissa was in a glum mood, having failed to catch any signs of interest from Draco in any one of the multitude of floozies she had thrown at him. Having been thus foiled, she decided to put the blame on Lucius, and berated him for not supporting her in her efforts.

"It really is too bad that my own husband takes no interest in whom our son intends to marry," she said tearfully as she climbed the stairs. "And if your mother was alive, she would certainly have agreed with me."

Lucius winced. His mother probably would have agreed with Narcissa, and he was very thankful that she was not around to express her views. He had had the foresight to have her portrait placed in the picture gallery in the West Wing, along with all the more troublesome and opinionated members of the family. This kept them occupied for the most part, since they tended to argue amongst themselves rather than wander about the house in search of outside entertainment.

By the time Lucius reached the top of the stairs, Narcissa had retreated to her boudoir and shut the door firmly. He hesitated before entering their bedroom, but then decided that grovelling could wait until tomorrow. Despondently, he supposed that, sooner or later, he would have to write Narcissa a poem. Somehow, she had never been put off by the lamentable quality of his verses.



The sounds of laboured breathing slowly returning to normal were all that filled the bedroom in Harry's flat, where he and Draco lay, sticky, sated and content. Eventually, Draco stirred and looked at Harry.

"What got into you tonight?" he asked. "You're not normally that..." He searched for a suitable word.

"Masterful?" Harry asked with a grin.

Draco glared at him.

"Demanding," he said firmly.

Harry shifted and pulled Draco closer to him, kissing his shoulder.

"Bloody Astoria Greengrass," he muttered. "Just like a leech."

Draco smiled delightedly.

"I knew you were jealous," he said.

"Possessive, maybe," Harry admitted. "But I hope I have no reason to be jealous."

Draco's smile softened, and he threaded his fingers through Harry's hair, draping a leg over Harry's waist at the same time.

"None at all," he whispered.



It was a quiet afternoon at the Manor. All three Malfoys were in the drawing room: Narcissa working on her embroidery, Lucius reading the business section of the Daily Prophet, and Draco gazing dreamily out of the window, a Potions text forgotten on his lap.

Narcissa cleared her throat and addressed her son.

"There were lots of nice girls at the Gala, Draco."

Draco didn't appear to hear her, and continued to gaze out across the park. Narcissa frowned.

"Draco!" she snapped. Draco turned a startled face towards her. "Girls."

"What girls?" he asked, bewildered.

Narcissa's voice became melodious and friendly again.

"I was saying," she repeated, "that there were a lot of nice girls at the Gala."

"I suppose so," Draco replied, looking rather uninterested.

"It can be difficult, with so many charming possibilities, to find the one that you really want to settle down with," Narcissa continued.

Draco grinned.

"Yes. Poor Daphne." He sniggered. "Poor Pansy."

"Daphne Greengrass' infatuation for Pansy is unfortunate," Narcissa remarked, not allowing the conversation to be side-tracked, "but there are plenty of other young ladies in the world."

"That reminds me," Draco said, snatching a piece of parchment up off the table beside him and scratching a quick note. "I must see if Pansy can give me that girl's Floo address – Lavinia something, I think she said."

Narcissa's eyes gleamed with interest.

"You like her?" she asked.

"Merlin, no," Draco said with feeling. "Mad as a hatter. Her father has a business selling wholesale potions ingredients, though, and she said he might be able to get me some of the rarer things I need."

Narcissa looked disappointed and Lucius gave her a consoling look. She glared at him and gestured with her head to Draco, who had picked up his book and was studying it intently. Lucius sighed inwardly and resolved to get it over with quickly.

"Draco," he said. Draco looked up expectantly. "Have you got a girlfriend?"

"A girlfriend?" Draco repeated. "No. Why?"

His instinctive response foxed Lucius; it seemed entirely genuine.

"I wondered, that's all," Lucius said, returning to his paper. "Young men of your age often do."

There was a moment's silence and when Lucius looked up he saw that Draco's face had a slight flush to it.

"Well," Draco said awkwardly. "I've got a lot on my plate just now. I mean, if I want to get my Potions Mastership, then, you know, I need to concentrate. No time for, um, distractions... like that."

His blush deepened and he buried his face in his book. Lucius was intrigued now, and, as Narcissa shot him a look of triumph, he considered Draco's reactions. He had thought his first denial had been genuine, but his second was obviously false. There was now no doubt in Lucius' mind that Draco was seeing someone, and that he didn't want his parents to know about it.



"Just what the fuck is your problem, Potter?" Draco demanded angrily as he stepped out of the Floo.

Harry looked up at him tiredly from the sofa and then looked away.

"Do you mind not shouting at me?" he said quietly.

"I was not shouting," Draco replied, crossing his arms and glaring down at Harry. "I would like to know, however, just why my boyfriend saw fit to storm out of the restaurant in the middle of our date."

"Well I'd rather like to know just what it is about me that you're so ashamed of," Harry retorted, rising to his feet.

"Ashamed? I'm not ashamed of you," Draco replied in astonishment.

"Then why won't you tell your parents about us?" Harry asked. "We've been going out for six weeks. My friends know, your best friend knows. The only thing stopping us from being completely public about it is that your parents don't know, and for some reason you refuse to tell them. I'm getting rather sick of having to sneak around as if I'm doing something wrong, and only going out with you to Muggle places."

"You know what my father's like, Harry," Draco protested, turning away slightly. "He's quite likely to –"

"The War is over, Draco," Harry retorted. "People have moved on, and, quite frankly, I think your father is more concerned about seeing you happy and keeping the family name clean than indulging in brawls just to satisfy his pride."

The fight went out of Draco suddenly and he turned to Harry, looking vulnerable and insecure.

"I just – I don't want anyone to be horrid about our relationship," he explained in a small voice. "It means so much to me – you mean so much to me, and – and I know that, of everyone, my parents have more reason than most to object to us being together." He stopped and shrugged awkwardly, and Harry pulled him into a close hug. "I've been so happy since we got together," Draco continued, swallowing down the threatening tears. "I want to stay happy; I don't want it all to go wrong. This is the first time I've ever... felt like this."

"It won't go wrong," Harry said softly. "You mean a lot to me, too, and I'm not going to let anything spoil it. It's the first time I've felt this way about anyone; you're not alone in that." He pulled back a little and looked into Draco's face. "You do need to tell your parents, though. Apart from anything else, it's not fair on them to keep them in the dark. They'll want to know what's going on in your life."

Draco swallowed heavily and sniffed.

"I – I will tell them. Just... let me tell them in my own time." Harry looked at him steadily. "It will be soon, I promise," Draco said earnestly.

Harry pulled him close again and stroked his back.

"Okay," he said softly. They stood in silence for a moment. "And I'm sorry I stormed out."

Draco gave a choked laugh.

"You'd better not do that ever again, Potter."

"I won't."

"...and you might make it up to me now with a blowjob."



A week later, Narcissa, browsing in Flourish and Blotts to while away the time before a luncheon engagement, was surprised to hear her son's voice quite close to her. She looked around, but he must have been standing behind the bookcase beside her, and she could not see through it. Neither could she hear who he was talking to, but his voice was tender and affectionate. Narcissa's heart beat faster; was she at last about to discover the identity of Draco's girlfriend?

She moved as quickly as she could to the end of the bookcase, squeezing past several plump and elderly witches, and then hesitated. If she turned straight around the corner, not only would she see who Draco was with, she would also be seen herself. It called for a bit of hasty manoeuvring, but she eventually managed, by weaving her way through a maze of randomly placed shelves, to get to a position where she could see and hear, but not be seen.

Taking a deep breath, she leaned forward to look, and nearly gasped aloud. The young woman Draco was talking to was none other than Hermione Granger. Surely she could not be the girl? But Narcissa had been barely a minute in moving to her current spot, and Draco's voice when she had first heard it, though she had not been able to overhear his actual words, had been the voice of a lover. She strained her ears to listen to their current conversation.

"So, are you going to do it soon?"

"Please don't lecture me, Hermione. We have discussed this, and I've said I'll tell them soon, but I want to pick the right time and the right way of doing it."

"Well, I hope it is soon, that's all. I think your parents will want to know you're serious about this relationship. If you are, that is."

"You know I am. I've never been more serious about anything. But I don't want my parents to start off with a hostile attitude because I cocked up how I told them."

"Draco." Her hand was on his arm. "They're your parents. All they'll care about is seeing you happy."

"I know. And it will be soon. Very soon."

There was a moment's silence and Narcissa moved hurriedly back against the wall. The last thing she wanted to hear or see was her son snogging his girlfriend in the middle of a bookshop.

She didn't know quite what to do. Lucius must be told, of course. Narcissa cast a hasty Tempus and stifled a curse. If she didn't hurry, she would be late for lunch. Telling Lucius would have to wait until afterwards.

Quickly and discreetly, she left the bookshop.

Had she remained a few minutes more, she would have seen Harry Potter join Draco and Hermione in their secluded spot.

"Told you I wouldn't be long," he said, pressing a quick kiss to Draco's cheek. He held up the bag he now carried. "I think this is the book Ginny mentioned. Neville should like it, anyway. It seems to have lots of stuff on exotic plants and how to grow them."

"Good," Hermione said with a smile. "So you see, Harry, bookshops aren't places to be avoided at all costs. They can be quite useful."

"I think it's a losing battle you're fighting," Draco put in dryly. "This one doesn't read anything other than Quidditch magazines."

"Hey, that's not true!" Harry protested. "I read a Potions book the other day. You had left it at my place, so I picked it up to see what was so fascinating." He grinned sheepishly. "Didn't understand a word, but at least I read it."

They all laughed, and then Hermione looked at her watch.

"I should be getting back to work. It was nice seeing you, Draco. We must talk some more about your research; it sounds fascinating."

"Oh, don't!" Harry groaned. "Once he starts talking Potions, he never stops."

"I'll see you both soon," Hermione said with a smile. She turned and walked along the aisle towards the exit.

Draco turned to Harry and wrapped his arms around Harry's waist.

"Well, and what are we going to do to while away the time today?" he asked in a sultry voice.

Harry grinned lecherously.

"Oh, I can think of a few things. And there's something I've been wanting to do..."



"Harry," Draco protested weakly, as Harry drove him back across Draco's bedroom at the Manor with kisses. "I'm really not sure this is a good idea."

"What's the risk?" Harry asked, divesting Draco of his shirt and tweaking his nipples. "You said both your parents are out for the afternoon. Besides," he went on, as Draco was about to protest again, "I've had lots of fantasies about this room."

Draco stopped trying to push Harry's fingers away from his belt and raised an eyebrow.

"Fantasies?" he asked.

"Mmm," Harry replied, pushing Draco's trousers down over his hips. "Lots of fantasies of you and this bedroom." He looked over at the bed. "I just knew you'd have an enormous bed. I bet it gets lonely in there at night."

Draco licked his lips.

"Very lonely," he said, rather breathlessly.

"I could help make it less lonely," Harry purred, kissing Draco's neck. "If you like."

"I do like," Draco sighed.

"Oh, and another thing," Harry said suddenly, leaving Draco's neck for a moment, a wicked glint in his eyes. "Do you still have your old school uniform?"

The next instant, Draco was attacking Harry's clothes like a mad thing, his lips pressed to Harry's.



Lucius was in a foul mood when he returned to the Manor not long afterwards. His business meeting that afternoon had been cut short because his associates wanted more time to think over a possible deal. The fact that it had taken them nearly an hour to state this had only worsened his temper.

He stalked into the drawing room, pleased to find it, for once, free of both his son and his son's Potions experiments, which had a tendency to escape from the laboratory and wander all over the Manor. After demanding brandy from a house elf, enjoying the fact that his wife was not there to disapprove of his drinking during the daytime, he sank into his favourite armchair and tried to relax.

Barely ten minutes later, Narcissa swept into the room, destroying the peace and bringing a considerable amount of agitation.

"Lucius! Thank Merlin you're home! The most disturbing thing has occurred." Lucius sat up straighter and focussed on her wearily. "I was in Flourish and Blotts today, before my lunch date with Wanda Winkle. As it happened, she wasn't feeling well, so we had to cut it short –"

"Cissa," Lucius said, massaging his temples. "Please come to the point."

"I was just about to," she retorted. "As I was saying, I was in Flourish and Blotts, and I overheard Draco talking to someone."

"I'm sure Draco talks to a lot of people," Lucius murmured, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

"Draco's girlfriend is Hermione Granger."

This brought Lucius out of his chair with a start. He stared at his wife for a moment.

"Nonsense," he said eventually. "He's always hated her."

"He hated Harry Potter for years, as well," Narcissa pointed out. "And they seem to get on perfectly well now."

"Hermione Granger?" Lucius said, unable to keep back a slight grimace. "But she's a – I mean, she's... well... I am most surprised. I'm sure she's a charming girl, and all that, but..."

"Quite," Narcissa said. "What do we do about it?"

"I thought she was engaged to one of the Weasley boys," Lucius mused. Then, seeing Narcissa looking pointedly at him, "The first thing to do is to confirm that it is the Granger girl. Where's Draco?"

"I have no idea."

"Nippy!" Lucius called. The house elf popped into the room and bowed. "Do you know where Draco is?"

The elf looked rather shifty.

"Master Draco is being in his room, sir."

"Good." Lucius turned to Narcissa. "We shall go and confront him and see what he says."

The elf made a strange squeaking noise.

"I is thinking that Master Draco is not wanting to be disturbed," it said, looking everywhere but at Lucius.

Lucius frowned.

"Be that as it may, we are going to speak to him now," he stated firmly. "Come, Cissa."

He strode out of the room and up the stairs, Narcissa close behind him. Lucius walked straight to Draco's bedroom and flung open the door, stopping short on seeing his son naked and intimately entangled with another person.

"Holy –" Lucius began, and then, on seeing just who that other person was, "Potter!"

Narcissa, peering over his shoulder, squeaked in exactly the same manner as Nippy had done. The two on the bed had frozen as the door had opened, and were now fumbling for the covers.

"Um," Draco said in a high nervous voice. "Mother, Father, you've met Harry Potter, haven't you?"

There was a moment's tense silence, and then Lucius turned to Narcissa.

"Hermione Granger," he said grimly.

She looked helplessly up at him and shook her head.

"I thought – I could have sworn..."

Lucius nodded.

"I'm sure you could have. Well, I'll leave you to deal with Draco and his –" he cast a scornful glance at the couple on the bed, now thankfully disentangled, "girlfriend."

With what he considered to be supreme dignity, Lucius left the room. As he walked down the stairs, he heard Narcissa saying in a flustered voice,

"Well, this is a surprise – a great surprise. We had no idea Draco was – I mean, how could we? Draco, darling, you really should have said something..."



By the time the third – or was it the fourth? – snifter of brandy appeared, both the situation and Lucius were considerably more mellow. It really wasn't that bad that his son was dating Harry Potter; it could have been much worse. Lucius couldn't think of an immediate example of who would have been worse, but he was sure there was someone.

Potter had many good points about him. He was extremely popular, for one thing, and, for another, he didn't have any relations, which meant no in-laws. Lucius smiled in satisfaction at this, until he remembered Potter's adoptive family. Still, a marriage between Draco and Potter would doubtless annoy Arthur Weasley no end, which was an entirely good thing, in Lucius' opinion. Potter's joining the family would also considerably enhance the Malfoy's slightly dented social standing, and if Potter felt moved to run for Minister in a few years, well, he would have his father-in-law there to advise and generally keep an eye on him. Yes, there were lots of positives. Draco certainly seemed happy enough, so he must have found a way to keep Potter in check.

As for his bad points... well, Lucius would do his best to overlook them, just as he would do his best to erase from his memory the image of Potter's naked arse. He was thankful he had not had to look at Potter's cock, but he had all too clear an idea of just where it had been at the time.

He shook off the disturbing thoughts of Potter's anatomy, and turned his attention to the wedding. It would be held at the Manor, of course; Narcissa would have a wonderful time planning it. He himself would make a speech. It would be a very good speech, full of sentiments about reconciliation, and Love crossing the boundaries, and so on.

Just then, Narcissa came in. She was a little pink in the face but looked pleased with herself.

"It's all sorted out, dear," she said, brushing an imaginary speck of dust off his desk. "Harry is joining us for dinner this evening. Such a nice boy; they do make a lovely couple."

Lucius said nothing, trying to rid his mind of the sudden picture of them coupling.

"I, er..." Narcissa hesitated delicately. "You won't make any trouble for them, will you? Draco was so worried that you might be cross; that's why he put off telling us for so long."

"Why should I make trouble for them?" Lucius said grandly, rising to his feet and walking over to the window, his hands clasped behind his back. "It is a marvellous match for our son, and I am delighted for them both. Indeed, it is a prime example of the healing power of Love and Reconciliation," he went on, rising to his theme. "Love can cross any boundaries and heal any rifts and wounds. In our world, which has been scarred by war, we must make Love the driving force, the foundation on which we build our future. Let our grandchildren be born into a world shaped by Love, and they shall know no pain or fear or disharmony. That is why I support Draco's relationship with Harry Potter, and I shall continue supporting it to the end, and defending it against all who seek to drive a wedge between those whom Love has brought together."

He turned to regard his wife, and found her gazing at him with suspiciously bright eyes.

"Oh, Lucius," she murmured. "I had no idea you felt like that." She moved to embrace him and laid her head on his shoulder. "You're so right, darling."

Surprised but pleased, Lucius put his arms around her and rested his chin on her hair. He was profoundly relieved. He wouldn't have to write that damned poem after all. Another comforting thought struck him and he smiled. Astoria Greengrass: she would have been much worse than Potter. 

End