Malfoy Yule ball, 24th December 1992 Harry walked away feeling the eyes of the man who had helped his soulmate practically burning into his back, but he didn't stop. The man left Harry with multiple questions buzzing around his head, however this was not the time or the place for such endeavours. Making sure his masks were firmly in place, Harry instead focused on the other guests, watching with interest how the most influential members of the wizarding world all interacted with one another, lies and manipulations falling from lips as easily as flattery and bribes. It was fascinating to watch.
"Enjoying the show?" a smooth drawl asked, drawing Harry's attention but not surprising him as his magic had felt the man's approach. "Indeed. I'm surprised you have left them. Such a fun game, politics," Harry said, sending the man next to him a small smirk.
Lucius returned the smirk. "Only if the players are interesting," Lucius said, looking around with barely concealed disgust.
Lucius felt like a new man since he had visited Gringotts yesterday morning and had himself checked out for compulsions and charms. Although nowhere near the level of what he had been fearing after speaking to Harry, Sirius, and Remus, the Malfoy Lord was enraged when he received his results. He had been made to hate muggleborns and halfbloods, to act more prideful than was gentlemanly, to be arrogant, and to not question orders. Small things that he already did to a slight degree in some cases, but with the added compulsions made it so he was a more than willing follower. Without them the Malfoy Lord questioned if he would have so easily followed his Lord as a teenager. He didn't regret his decision now as he knew that with Harrison's help the Dark and his Lord would be reborn but still, the slight doubt he had enraged him. He was a Malfoy and Malfoys didn't get manipulated.
Harry snorted delicately, enjoying the man's dry humour as it was rare f or people to use such with him at his body's current physical age.
"Father, have you seen—oh there you are!" Came a softer version of Lucius' voice. Draco appeared next to his father and sent Harry a quick smile before his pureblood mask slipped back on.
"Draco," Harry greeted, regretting being found as enjoying Lucius' company.
"Harry," the blond greeted.
almost he was
Lucius sent his son a soft look. "I shall leave you boys to it. Do remember to come and see me before you leave tonight, Harrison."
Harry nodded. "I evening, Lucius."
shall.
Enjoy
your
Draco
snorted
and
said, "It's
weird watching you with my father."
"Oh?" Harry hummed.
"He treats you like an adult - it's like he respects you. He doesn't respect anybody! What makes you so special?" Draco asked, sounding petulant. However, Harry could tell the boy wasn't truly upset, just merely confused.
Harry sighed. He had feared this and although Draco was much more mature this time around, he was still rather spoilt and, well, a child. A child who idolised his father and saw Harry as a potential threat for the man's affections.
"Really?" Harry said, acting shocked. "It's probably because of everything that's happened with Siri and Dumbledore, and us being friends."
Draco didn't look fully convinced but his eyes did soften slightly and his pout lessened. "Yeah," he agreed.
Harry let out a breath. "So where are you taking me?" he asked, following the slightly taller boy through a set of double doors.
"To where the actual fun is," Draco said, opening a door and revealing a room full of people their age or there about. Harry recognised a few people slightly older and younger than his yearmates.
"You found him!" A female voice said, drawing Harry's eyes to Susan. She was standing up from her place where she had been sitting with Hannah and the two Greengrass sisters near a chessboard.
"Yes, he was in the main ballroom with the adults," Draco said.
Harry looked around the room and saw that it was set up with various games and snacks.
"Would it be too much to hope we're staying here all night?" he asked. He wouldn't mind this as it was like a regular party.
"Yes," Draco said, smirking. "But we will be in here for most of it. However it is expected of us to go in for an hour at around 8 - a house elf will let us know when."
Harry groaned lightly but was relieved that he didn't have to stay at the ball all evening.
Hearing giggling, Harry saw that Pansy had joined him and Draco. "I don't see why you hate dancing so much. You're so graceful, I'm sure you're a wonderful dancer," the girl said, smiling lightly at Harry.
Seeing the girl dressed in pale blue robes, Harry smiled before bowing lowly and kissing her hand. "You look lovely this evening, Miss Parkinson. However, I'm sorry to inform you that you're wrong. A drunken hippogriff would be a better dance partner than me," he said, making the girl blush at the compliment before she laughed.
~
Sirius was bored. Not only was he bored but he was uncomfortable.
He had always hated parties like this and they were even worse now that he was an adult. Everybody here had an agenda or a motive—they were looking for gossip, weaknesses to exploit, or endorsements. It was a giant game of politics that Sirius didn't want to play.
"You look utterly miserable, mutt. What's wrong? Did the wolf forget to give you a flea bath this week?" Hearing the melodious and snarky voice, Sirius grinned, "Now, now, Sevvie, you know it's not me who forgot to bathe."
Severus glared at the Lord in front of him but he felt no heat behind it. He was honestly, Morgana save him, starting to tolerate the man.
"Really? I didn't notice," the potions master said, letting his eyes drag slowly up the Lord's body. He was unwilling to admit to himself just how good the man in front of him looked. His skin held a healthy glow that it had previously been missing, his grey eyes and black hair standing out against his fine quality robes.
Sirius thought to keep a smirk off his face as he felt the black eyes rake across his body, lingering in certain places. 'How interesting.'
"So, have you visited the goblins yet?" Sirius asked.
Severus felt any good humour he had previously felt dry up and die in an instant. Yes, he had visited the goblins.
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