[Fic:] Chapter 7 Family Dinner Part I
Apr. 8th, 2018 08:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smirkingcatTitle: Chapter 7 Family Dinner Part I
Author :smirkingcat
Rating: PG
Word Count : 2.760
Notes: and the story goes on: find part one @lj, @dw
many thanks and gratitude tothemightyflynn for all the grand support and beta reading!
used for![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
hp_bunintheoven March prompt 1: St Patrick's Day
Summary: Meeting the Malfoy's, facing their best friends.
Warnings: fluff, mpreg, D/s- subtext, sex
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 7 Family Dinner Part I
One last time, Blaise smoothed down his dress robes. Outside of the few balls he had attended at Malfoy Manor, this was the most formal he ever had dressed for a visit there.
It felt wrong.
But he wanted to make a good impression, show that he was serious about Severus. And with the right expression, the dark blue robes - which were easily mistaken for black - and the silver stitching around the hems made him appear more regal, older, not to be trifled with.
This effect was diminished as soon as one saw him from the side, though. He looked pregnant and nothing was to be done about that.
With a sigh, because most likely the perfect moment for his entrance has already passed, he stepped into the fireplace and threw the floo powder: “Malfoy Manor.”
“-apparently the level of potion knowledge has significantly dropped, since you stopped teaching sir, and it finally is starting to impact the auror work since Adeleine had to retire this autumn.”
These were the first words Blaise heard when he stepped out of the floo. He noted with relief that Severus had not stepped that far away, and he could hide a little bit behind him.
“Blaise?!” Draco exclaimed, puzzled.
“Draco, Harry,” Blaise nodded to his best friend and his lover. He took one deep breath before he stepped around Severus, towards Mrs Malfoy, who offered him her hand.
“Oh,” Draco was the first to comment.
“Mrs Malfoy, a delight to see you again,” Blaise commented politely, before he shook Mr Malfoy’s hand and congratulated him on a recent purchase of a very fine piece of art at an auction.
He was acutely aware of Severus' eyes on him.
Mr Malfoy thanked him in his usual regal way, but there was some appreciation for Blaise’s cunning.
Blaise was a man of leisure, and that meant also he was a man of information. He might not have the connections Mr Malfoy had, but he knew how to get the information he needed, when he needed it.
“It appears we have to congratulate you, too,” Mr Malfoy then went on. “Though I dare say you have surprised us tonight, Severus.”
“That was not my intention, Lucius. In fact-”
“Gentlemen, this is not a discussion to be had in the foyer. Let us relocate to the salon for an aperitif,” Mrs Malfoy reprimanded softly, taking her husband by his elbow and leading them out of the room.
“Thank you,” Blaise whispered in Severus’ ear, as they walked through the halls to the salon.
The barely-there nod was unexpected, but with a small smile, he let his fingers brush against Severus’. They were in this together and they were both facing their best friends, in a way.
In an elegant fashion, Mr Malfoy poured the Vermouth for everybody but Blaise.
“You will enjoy this season's grape juice from our vineyard in France. It is particularly flavourful as it was a very good year for the grapes.” He offered Blaise a fine glass with the juice and sparkling water mix.
“Thank you, sir,” Blaise replied, taking the offered glass.
They said their “cheers” and tasted their wines.
“This is indeed a very lovely Vermouth,” Severus said, complementing Lucius’ choice.
“For the family and our guests-” here Lucius eyes wandered to Harry “-only the best of course.”
“It is also a very impressive vineyard. Draco invited me there this autumn, it was fascinating,” Harry commented carefully.
“Fascinating wasn’t the word you used at the time, if I remember correctly,” Draco teased, and sent a meaningful look Harry’s way. It was a misfortune for Harry that he still blushed easily.
“Draco, please remember your manners in polite company,” Mr Malfoy reprimanded. Mrs Malfoy hid her smile behind her drink.
Severus rolled his eyes. “At least we do not have to suffer though his moping anymore, Lucius. This is a preferred circumstance-”
“I was not moping, Severus. I am a dignified Malfoy, if anything, I was brooding,” Draco replied, with a huff.
Blaise tried to stifle his snort, while Mrs Malfoy chuckled ever so softly and Harry grinned, rather pleased.
“So, you were brooding over me, before I managed to woo you? Good to know,” Harry said, moving his arm around Draco’s waist, pulling him closer.
“I believe I have not yet heard the story of how you courted my son, Harry. Please do tell,” Mrs Malfoy said politely, but with a noticeably teasing tone to her voice.
This time it was Draco who blushed. Blaise sipped his juice and raised his eyebrow at his friend.
“Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it Draco?” Harry just grinned at them and took a sip of his drink.
“Miracles do in fact happen. A Potter with tact: your late grandmother would be delighted,” Mr Malfoy commented dryly.
“She is not the only one,” Draco interjected.
“Yes, Darling, we can all see how smitten you are,” Mrs Malfoy said, leaning closer into Lucius.
Blaise couldn’t help but notice that something must have changed for this family. He was used to some teasing and taunts. They were Slytherins and pointing out the weakness, in a way, was their method to help each other to survive in the world, to go further than you could before.
But there had always been a formality to it, when he visited Draco and dined with his parents, or when his mother made him come to one of their dinners.
Blaise was intrigued. What had shifted the overall feeling into something rather laid back? Was it Harry? Or was it Severus? Was this simply how the Malfoys acted when they thought themselves around family? And did that mean he was now part of that? While it might be a good thing, it also left Blaise out of his depth. This was not a situation he expected or knew how to handle. He didn’t know how to relax into this situation, or if he even dared to. Draco could hold grudges like nobody else, and he did not easily forgive.
“So, should we arrange for the Ministry Christmas Ball to have Blaise at our table, Severus?” Mr Malfoy suddenly asked, the cutting tone barely hidden.
“Only if you still insist on dragging me there-”
“Oi, if I've got to go and play big hero, then so do you Severus. And this time you do not get to wiggle your way out of it,” Harry interjected.
“The Ministry Ball is a good chance to make some connections. If you want to become the next department head of the aurors, you have to start shaking some hands,” Draco said rolling his eyes. “Can you imagine, it took me two years for him to agree to join our club, Severus. As if politics are made inside the Ministry.” Draco shook his head.
“Well, they should be! I do not like this fraternisation-thing, it seems wrong,” Harry huffed.
“I believe the term is corrupt, Harry. But, on the other hand it also leads to a Ministry really serving its public. They have to, if they want to stay in power,” Blaise said carefully.
“But it’s all about money or how old a bloodline is, where they dine, who they know. It’s not about what is right,” Harry said.
“And pray tell, Potter, how would you define right? And for that matter what is wrong? And how are others to know?” Severus asked, speaking to Harry like he spoke to a child.
“I- well, that is to say, right is...”
“Right is what you deem just. But from another point of view, what you deem just might be considered unfair. Five years ago, when your relationship with Draco was made known to the public, many thought it just to hurl all his faults at him, and convincing everybody that he is corrupting you.”
“Right,” Harry replied and one could see how he was absorbing what was said. His eyes never left Severus'.
"And joining a club is not like you give them your soul or promise to do only what they approve. It might be that way for muggles, but that is a default due to numbers. A club is merely a place where others have the chance to approach you and give you information you might need, but also get answers from you. And in crisis it is a network making the whole society able to react fast to any sort of threat," Severus explained further.
"But during the war-" Harry said.
"During the war most of the clubs have been disbanded or flooded with moles, Mr Potter," Lucius said.
"In essence most of the clubs we have are a way to connect for those who travel between the worlds. muggle-borns profit most of them. Pure-bloods have networks in place, wards which alarm us, signals which get sent. But due to their muggle-hook-ups of thinking of clubs as a place where who knows what happens, they lose that possibility," Blaise offered.
"More sites than just one," Severus said and Harry nodded slowly, trying to take it all in.
“I believe that the dinner is ready,” Mrs Malfoy said, finishing her drink and putting the glass on the tray of the waiting house-elf.
Blaise mirrored her example and followed the elder Malfoys with Severus by his side. Draco and Harry seemed to need a Moment.
“I never imagined you caring enough for Harry Potter to deem it worth the effort to teach him something,” Blaise spoke softly.
“It is at this point a habit. I only wish he were a faster study,” Severus replied, a little too defensively.
“I doubt that. It is a habit for you to teach, but you care about Harry. I understand there are connections there, I just never imagined I would see it,” Blaise contradicted him.
He had noticed how Harry had deferred to Severus, and how Severus made sure his lesson was understood.
“Are you jealous?”
There was amusement there, Blaise didn’t even have to imagine it.
“Of Harry? No. There is no reason to be. I know Draco and he may have a very hard shell, but he is also a softy at heart, the romantic type, the wooing and taking your time type, and I imagine Harry ticking pretty much the same way. To them, you would be a rather scary stranger, sir.” At the end of his words, Blaise had leaned over and whispered them into Severus' ears.
“Do behave, pet,” Severus replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Always, if you ask me to.” Blaise grinned. “And if there is the right incentive.”
And then there was the look, with that raised eyebrow and Blaise just felt heat rising in his belly. Provoking Severus now, might actually have been a bad move, since he could hear the elder Malfoys in the dining room and the younger Malfoys behind them.
“Ceasefire, your point is proven,” Blaise mumbled before they stepped though the door into the dining room.
“This smells delicious,” he said aloud. And it was not just politeness, he meant it.
“Thank you. I hope it will be to your taste as well,” Mrs Malfoy said, standing behind her seat, waiting for her son and Harry to arrive. Blaise felt a tiny bit relieved to see the return of protocol. He felt safer just knowing what to expect and how to behave.
They sat down as a group once Draco and Harry joined them; Draco acting like nothing was amiss, Harry slightly blushing.
The soup was served and they all started to eat.
Blaise enjoyed the first few sips of his soup so much. It was delicious, it warmed him from the inside and he made the mistake of letting the soup relax him. Soup was a comfort food after all, unobtrusive and enjoyable.
It was a stupid mistake to make in this crowd, especially under the consideration of their circumstances.
“So, now that the pleasantries have been observed, I think it is time for us to have our curiosity about the two of you satisfied, do you not agree, Severus?” Narcissa said, halfway through the soup.
Blaise had to muffle a cough that nearly escaped him, but at the same time, he was relieved that at least he didn’t need to answer those questions. Severus had a way with words, and Draco might actually be more accepting of the explanation coming from his godfather. Draco adored him, after all.
“You will find that your curiosity might be better served elsewhere. Ours is a truly dull story,” Severus answered, his voice perfectly even.
Blaise was not certain if that synopsis met his approval. Dull, for one, was not a word he would have chosen.
“Come now, old friend. Becoming a father, snatching the bachelor of the high society, about whom everybody is wondering if and when he will settle down? Do not attempt to deter us,” Lucius drawled, picking up his white wine, which had been served with the soup.
With a silent sigh, Blaise wished fervently that he was allowed some alcohol.
“We shall attempt to make it easy for you, Severus. Since we all are very familiar with the fact that you dislike telling stories, we shall ask questions,” Narcissa said.
Blaise looked up at that, finding Draco staring at him. “If I may be so bold as to claim the first question: Since when have the two of you been associated in such a manner?”
Blaise winced on the inside, keeping his face impassive. Draco’s voice was sharp, with a cutting formality to every word- a sure sign that he was furious.
“Since July,” Blaise said carefully.
That got him some raised eyebrows, but before anybody else could say anything Severus added: “Of two thousand.”
Harry was the one person whose gasp Blaise truly heard. However, it was Draco’s face contorted in shock which he saw.
“And neither of you saw it necessary to mention that on one of your numerous visits during the last eleven years?” Lucius asked, his voice just like his son’s deep, dark and cutting.
“Exactly. We did not see a need to involve others in our private business. Now, however, our circumstances have changed and so the need has arisen,” Severus replied.
Blaise peered at Severus from the corner of his eye. It was true, but it also was a much harsher answer than he had given would have given. Could they not be a little more forthcoming? At least towards their friends: their family?
“Blaise, what is your answer? I would very much like to hear your point of view to this astonishing situation,” Lucius said, shifting the attention to him.
Blaise felt the lump in his throat growing bigger. What should he say? What was he even allowed to say? Which disaster would the wrong answer bring forth?
“In a way, Mr Malfoy, you already answered your own question. Severus, as a war hero and the youngest headmaster of Hogwarts and I myself being the son of my mother: we are always in the spotlight in one way or another. We valued our privacy more than rumours and meddling,” Blaise said. He struggled to find words that were as true as they were diplomatic.
Nobody at the table would be able to handle the truth itself.
“Are you implying that we would have spread your secrets like the drunken Leprechaun at St Patrick's would do?” Draco asked, leaning ever so slightly forward.
“We are not. But walls have ears in our society. One word would have lead to another, one greeting one wrong glance. I think, Draco, that you would empathise with your best friend and I, considering how similar our positions are, with the exception that I have a far darker past than you and have the misfortune of my looks. I shall even stoop so low and mention my age in this obvious statement,” Severus said.
Blaise sighed, and leaned back. He was done with the soup and this conversation.
“May I be allowed to add that I do not like to be treated like an imbecile not able to make my own decision? It is insulting.”
“Hear, hear,” Harry said, taking his glass, nodding towards Blaise. “And bloody annoying. However I am sure you can take comfort that there will be very few people actually dosing you in a nullifying potion in the middle of Diagon Alley.”
Blaise saw Draco looking down at his plate, his hand tightening around his spoon.
Maybe he understood more than Blaise had given him credit.
Chapter 8: at lj | at dw
Author :
smirkingcatRating: PG
Word Count : 2.760
Notes: and the story goes on: find part one @lj, @dw
many thanks and gratitude to
themightyflynn for all the grand support and beta reading! used for
hp_bunintheoven March prompt 1: St Patrick's DaySummary: Meeting the Malfoy's, facing their best friends.
Warnings: fluff, mpreg, D/s- subtext, sex
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 7 Family Dinner Part I
One last time, Blaise smoothed down his dress robes. Outside of the few balls he had attended at Malfoy Manor, this was the most formal he ever had dressed for a visit there.
It felt wrong.
But he wanted to make a good impression, show that he was serious about Severus. And with the right expression, the dark blue robes - which were easily mistaken for black - and the silver stitching around the hems made him appear more regal, older, not to be trifled with.
This effect was diminished as soon as one saw him from the side, though. He looked pregnant and nothing was to be done about that.
With a sigh, because most likely the perfect moment for his entrance has already passed, he stepped into the fireplace and threw the floo powder: “Malfoy Manor.”
“-apparently the level of potion knowledge has significantly dropped, since you stopped teaching sir, and it finally is starting to impact the auror work since Adeleine had to retire this autumn.”
These were the first words Blaise heard when he stepped out of the floo. He noted with relief that Severus had not stepped that far away, and he could hide a little bit behind him.
“Blaise?!” Draco exclaimed, puzzled.
“Draco, Harry,” Blaise nodded to his best friend and his lover. He took one deep breath before he stepped around Severus, towards Mrs Malfoy, who offered him her hand.
“Oh,” Draco was the first to comment.
“Mrs Malfoy, a delight to see you again,” Blaise commented politely, before he shook Mr Malfoy’s hand and congratulated him on a recent purchase of a very fine piece of art at an auction.
He was acutely aware of Severus' eyes on him.
Mr Malfoy thanked him in his usual regal way, but there was some appreciation for Blaise’s cunning.
Blaise was a man of leisure, and that meant also he was a man of information. He might not have the connections Mr Malfoy had, but he knew how to get the information he needed, when he needed it.
“It appears we have to congratulate you, too,” Mr Malfoy then went on. “Though I dare say you have surprised us tonight, Severus.”
“That was not my intention, Lucius. In fact-”
“Gentlemen, this is not a discussion to be had in the foyer. Let us relocate to the salon for an aperitif,” Mrs Malfoy reprimanded softly, taking her husband by his elbow and leading them out of the room.
“Thank you,” Blaise whispered in Severus’ ear, as they walked through the halls to the salon.
The barely-there nod was unexpected, but with a small smile, he let his fingers brush against Severus’. They were in this together and they were both facing their best friends, in a way.
In an elegant fashion, Mr Malfoy poured the Vermouth for everybody but Blaise.
“You will enjoy this season's grape juice from our vineyard in France. It is particularly flavourful as it was a very good year for the grapes.” He offered Blaise a fine glass with the juice and sparkling water mix.
“Thank you, sir,” Blaise replied, taking the offered glass.
They said their “cheers” and tasted their wines.
“This is indeed a very lovely Vermouth,” Severus said, complementing Lucius’ choice.
“For the family and our guests-” here Lucius eyes wandered to Harry “-only the best of course.”
“It is also a very impressive vineyard. Draco invited me there this autumn, it was fascinating,” Harry commented carefully.
“Fascinating wasn’t the word you used at the time, if I remember correctly,” Draco teased, and sent a meaningful look Harry’s way. It was a misfortune for Harry that he still blushed easily.
“Draco, please remember your manners in polite company,” Mr Malfoy reprimanded. Mrs Malfoy hid her smile behind her drink.
Severus rolled his eyes. “At least we do not have to suffer though his moping anymore, Lucius. This is a preferred circumstance-”
“I was not moping, Severus. I am a dignified Malfoy, if anything, I was brooding,” Draco replied, with a huff.
Blaise tried to stifle his snort, while Mrs Malfoy chuckled ever so softly and Harry grinned, rather pleased.
“So, you were brooding over me, before I managed to woo you? Good to know,” Harry said, moving his arm around Draco’s waist, pulling him closer.
“I believe I have not yet heard the story of how you courted my son, Harry. Please do tell,” Mrs Malfoy said politely, but with a noticeably teasing tone to her voice.
This time it was Draco who blushed. Blaise sipped his juice and raised his eyebrow at his friend.
“Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it Draco?” Harry just grinned at them and took a sip of his drink.
“Miracles do in fact happen. A Potter with tact: your late grandmother would be delighted,” Mr Malfoy commented dryly.
“She is not the only one,” Draco interjected.
“Yes, Darling, we can all see how smitten you are,” Mrs Malfoy said, leaning closer into Lucius.
Blaise couldn’t help but notice that something must have changed for this family. He was used to some teasing and taunts. They were Slytherins and pointing out the weakness, in a way, was their method to help each other to survive in the world, to go further than you could before.
But there had always been a formality to it, when he visited Draco and dined with his parents, or when his mother made him come to one of their dinners.
Blaise was intrigued. What had shifted the overall feeling into something rather laid back? Was it Harry? Or was it Severus? Was this simply how the Malfoys acted when they thought themselves around family? And did that mean he was now part of that? While it might be a good thing, it also left Blaise out of his depth. This was not a situation he expected or knew how to handle. He didn’t know how to relax into this situation, or if he even dared to. Draco could hold grudges like nobody else, and he did not easily forgive.
“So, should we arrange for the Ministry Christmas Ball to have Blaise at our table, Severus?” Mr Malfoy suddenly asked, the cutting tone barely hidden.
“Only if you still insist on dragging me there-”
“Oi, if I've got to go and play big hero, then so do you Severus. And this time you do not get to wiggle your way out of it,” Harry interjected.
“The Ministry Ball is a good chance to make some connections. If you want to become the next department head of the aurors, you have to start shaking some hands,” Draco said rolling his eyes. “Can you imagine, it took me two years for him to agree to join our club, Severus. As if politics are made inside the Ministry.” Draco shook his head.
“Well, they should be! I do not like this fraternisation-thing, it seems wrong,” Harry huffed.
“I believe the term is corrupt, Harry. But, on the other hand it also leads to a Ministry really serving its public. They have to, if they want to stay in power,” Blaise said carefully.
“But it’s all about money or how old a bloodline is, where they dine, who they know. It’s not about what is right,” Harry said.
“And pray tell, Potter, how would you define right? And for that matter what is wrong? And how are others to know?” Severus asked, speaking to Harry like he spoke to a child.
“I- well, that is to say, right is...”
“Right is what you deem just. But from another point of view, what you deem just might be considered unfair. Five years ago, when your relationship with Draco was made known to the public, many thought it just to hurl all his faults at him, and convincing everybody that he is corrupting you.”
“Right,” Harry replied and one could see how he was absorbing what was said. His eyes never left Severus'.
"And joining a club is not like you give them your soul or promise to do only what they approve. It might be that way for muggles, but that is a default due to numbers. A club is merely a place where others have the chance to approach you and give you information you might need, but also get answers from you. And in crisis it is a network making the whole society able to react fast to any sort of threat," Severus explained further.
"But during the war-" Harry said.
"During the war most of the clubs have been disbanded or flooded with moles, Mr Potter," Lucius said.
"In essence most of the clubs we have are a way to connect for those who travel between the worlds. muggle-borns profit most of them. Pure-bloods have networks in place, wards which alarm us, signals which get sent. But due to their muggle-hook-ups of thinking of clubs as a place where who knows what happens, they lose that possibility," Blaise offered.
"More sites than just one," Severus said and Harry nodded slowly, trying to take it all in.
“I believe that the dinner is ready,” Mrs Malfoy said, finishing her drink and putting the glass on the tray of the waiting house-elf.
Blaise mirrored her example and followed the elder Malfoys with Severus by his side. Draco and Harry seemed to need a Moment.
“I never imagined you caring enough for Harry Potter to deem it worth the effort to teach him something,” Blaise spoke softly.
“It is at this point a habit. I only wish he were a faster study,” Severus replied, a little too defensively.
“I doubt that. It is a habit for you to teach, but you care about Harry. I understand there are connections there, I just never imagined I would see it,” Blaise contradicted him.
He had noticed how Harry had deferred to Severus, and how Severus made sure his lesson was understood.
“Are you jealous?”
There was amusement there, Blaise didn’t even have to imagine it.
“Of Harry? No. There is no reason to be. I know Draco and he may have a very hard shell, but he is also a softy at heart, the romantic type, the wooing and taking your time type, and I imagine Harry ticking pretty much the same way. To them, you would be a rather scary stranger, sir.” At the end of his words, Blaise had leaned over and whispered them into Severus' ears.
“Do behave, pet,” Severus replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Always, if you ask me to.” Blaise grinned. “And if there is the right incentive.”
And then there was the look, with that raised eyebrow and Blaise just felt heat rising in his belly. Provoking Severus now, might actually have been a bad move, since he could hear the elder Malfoys in the dining room and the younger Malfoys behind them.
“Ceasefire, your point is proven,” Blaise mumbled before they stepped though the door into the dining room.
“This smells delicious,” he said aloud. And it was not just politeness, he meant it.
“Thank you. I hope it will be to your taste as well,” Mrs Malfoy said, standing behind her seat, waiting for her son and Harry to arrive. Blaise felt a tiny bit relieved to see the return of protocol. He felt safer just knowing what to expect and how to behave.
They sat down as a group once Draco and Harry joined them; Draco acting like nothing was amiss, Harry slightly blushing.
The soup was served and they all started to eat.
Blaise enjoyed the first few sips of his soup so much. It was delicious, it warmed him from the inside and he made the mistake of letting the soup relax him. Soup was a comfort food after all, unobtrusive and enjoyable.
It was a stupid mistake to make in this crowd, especially under the consideration of their circumstances.
“So, now that the pleasantries have been observed, I think it is time for us to have our curiosity about the two of you satisfied, do you not agree, Severus?” Narcissa said, halfway through the soup.
Blaise had to muffle a cough that nearly escaped him, but at the same time, he was relieved that at least he didn’t need to answer those questions. Severus had a way with words, and Draco might actually be more accepting of the explanation coming from his godfather. Draco adored him, after all.
“You will find that your curiosity might be better served elsewhere. Ours is a truly dull story,” Severus answered, his voice perfectly even.
Blaise was not certain if that synopsis met his approval. Dull, for one, was not a word he would have chosen.
“Come now, old friend. Becoming a father, snatching the bachelor of the high society, about whom everybody is wondering if and when he will settle down? Do not attempt to deter us,” Lucius drawled, picking up his white wine, which had been served with the soup.
With a silent sigh, Blaise wished fervently that he was allowed some alcohol.
“We shall attempt to make it easy for you, Severus. Since we all are very familiar with the fact that you dislike telling stories, we shall ask questions,” Narcissa said.
Blaise looked up at that, finding Draco staring at him. “If I may be so bold as to claim the first question: Since when have the two of you been associated in such a manner?”
Blaise winced on the inside, keeping his face impassive. Draco’s voice was sharp, with a cutting formality to every word- a sure sign that he was furious.
“Since July,” Blaise said carefully.
That got him some raised eyebrows, but before anybody else could say anything Severus added: “Of two thousand.”
Harry was the one person whose gasp Blaise truly heard. However, it was Draco’s face contorted in shock which he saw.
“And neither of you saw it necessary to mention that on one of your numerous visits during the last eleven years?” Lucius asked, his voice just like his son’s deep, dark and cutting.
“Exactly. We did not see a need to involve others in our private business. Now, however, our circumstances have changed and so the need has arisen,” Severus replied.
Blaise peered at Severus from the corner of his eye. It was true, but it also was a much harsher answer than he had given would have given. Could they not be a little more forthcoming? At least towards their friends: their family?
“Blaise, what is your answer? I would very much like to hear your point of view to this astonishing situation,” Lucius said, shifting the attention to him.
Blaise felt the lump in his throat growing bigger. What should he say? What was he even allowed to say? Which disaster would the wrong answer bring forth?
“In a way, Mr Malfoy, you already answered your own question. Severus, as a war hero and the youngest headmaster of Hogwarts and I myself being the son of my mother: we are always in the spotlight in one way or another. We valued our privacy more than rumours and meddling,” Blaise said. He struggled to find words that were as true as they were diplomatic.
Nobody at the table would be able to handle the truth itself.
“Are you implying that we would have spread your secrets like the drunken Leprechaun at St Patrick's would do?” Draco asked, leaning ever so slightly forward.
“We are not. But walls have ears in our society. One word would have lead to another, one greeting one wrong glance. I think, Draco, that you would empathise with your best friend and I, considering how similar our positions are, with the exception that I have a far darker past than you and have the misfortune of my looks. I shall even stoop so low and mention my age in this obvious statement,” Severus said.
Blaise sighed, and leaned back. He was done with the soup and this conversation.
“May I be allowed to add that I do not like to be treated like an imbecile not able to make my own decision? It is insulting.”
“Hear, hear,” Harry said, taking his glass, nodding towards Blaise. “And bloody annoying. However I am sure you can take comfort that there will be very few people actually dosing you in a nullifying potion in the middle of Diagon Alley.”
Blaise saw Draco looking down at his plate, his hand tightening around his spoon.
Maybe he understood more than Blaise had given him credit.
Chapter 8: at lj | at dw
