490Chapter 17: The Freedom of Draco Malfoy
Harry turned around and opened his mouth to say something until he caught sight of the flabbergasted looks he was getting from everyone. Even Snape looked shocked. Well his eyes were wide. That was something.
Harry took one look at Draco and couldn't hold himself back. He took off running and threw himself at his boyfriend. Harry had jumped enough to wrap his legs around Draco's waist.
Draco let out an oomph when Harry leapt at him. He quickly squeezed Harry tightly to him, Harry was his lifeline. His anchor that kept him grounded. Draco was so mentally exhausted from the trial. All the emotions he had been bottling up had exploded and he just wanted to spend all day holding his boyfriend. Everyone else could just bugger off.
Harry began kissing every part of Draco's face that he could see. "Blimey I was so scared. I tried to be confident but I was so worried about you Draco." Harry said through many kisses. Harry let his shields back down so that Draco could feel all of his emotions again.
Draco sighed in relief at feeling Harry's emotions again. He didn't like it that the bond had been shut down like that. Not feeling connected to Harry scared him. He had grown so accustomed and addicted to the bond that he never wanted to experience that again.
"Don't ever do that to me again!" Harry scolded. Draco winced. "When I woke up to that letter, I thought a piece of me died. You took everything good and whole inside me with you. I-I don't think I could stomach a world without you. Please don't do that again." Harry begged with tears in his eyes.
Draco's chest constricted painfully. He could the hurt that he had caused his love, that was never intended. "I'm sorry!" Draco breathed through watery eyes. "I didn't know what to say. I never wanted to hurt you. I'm so sorry." Draco begged for Harry to believe him.
Harry resumed kissing Draco's face. "It's okay." He mumbled over and over again.
"I love you." Draco replied. Harry stopped his attack on Draco's face and pulled away slightly to look into his eyes. Harry nearly swooned at seeing those gorgeous grey eyes shining with love. It was surreal to think that it was over. All the worry and heartache was over. The trial was behind them, they could move on with their lives. At least until the papers made him out to be some sort of monster. Then they would deal with that.
"I love you too. So much." Harry said thickly, blinking back tears. It seemed like days ago that he was reading that letter instead of this morning. Draco leaned forward and kissed Harry with passion. He poured out all his feelings for Harry into the kiss. Harry slowly slid down Draco's body as he wrapped his arms around Draco's neck. Harry melted into the kiss as Draco's tongue made contact with his own.
Quite a few pointed coughs interrupted the haze of their kiss. Harry shook his head to clear the dazed look he knew was in his eyes. Harry leaned back but didn't let go of Draco to see who had coughed. He wanted to tell them to fuck off. He didn't go through all the pain and fear of losing Draco to stop now. But he sighed instead, there would be time for more kisses later.
The twins, Pansy and Blaise all had smirks on their faces. Snape and Lucius looked like they swallowed a lemon. Narcissa had a bemused look on her face.
"That was brilliant! -"
"You killed it Harry. We had-" Fred said enthusiastically.
"No idea that you could be-" George waved his hands all over the place as he talked.
"So intimidating."
Everyone was watching the twins talk with frustration as their heads moved back and forth from one to the other. All except Pansy and Blaise. They watched the twins talk with fond smiles. Interesting. A lot must have happened in the past week, Harry mused. There was a story there. He just knew it, he would have to weasel it out of one of them. Harry caught Pansy's eye and raised a brow when she flushed all over. Oh definitely a story there.
Harry shrugged uncomfortably under the Fred and George's praise. Lucius cleared his throat and Harry stepped away from Draco narrowing his eyes. Oh boy, here we go. This ought to be good.
"It would appear that I owe you my sincerest gratitude." Lucius said smoothly. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Oh no, that just won't do." Lucius furrowed his brows in confusion. "You owe me far more than just your gratitude." Lucius stood up straighter and narrowed his eyes.
"The only and I do mean only reason I lied for you up there was for Draco. For some godforsaken reason he loves you. Why would he love you? Your guess is as good as mine." Narcissa gasped. Harry paid her no mind. He was having way too much fun baiting the man. Lucius looked like he wanted to hit Harry.
"Not only did I keep your pitiful existence out of Azkaban, I kept your entire family out. I saved your family wealth and helped your tarnished reputation. You owe me Lucius Malfoy." Harry said with a growl.
"If it's money you-" Harry cut him off before he could even start. "I don't need nor want your money. As it so happens I know exactly how you can repay me." Lucius arched a brow.
Harry pulled out another parchment from his brief case. The magic radiating off of it let the others know it was a contract of some kind. "What makes you think I will sign that?" Lucius scoffed before even reading it.
Harry smirked in response. "As easily as I saved you, I can easily destroy you." Harry warned. Harry adopted a picture of innocence. "All I have to do is go to Fudge and tell him how the big bad deatheater Lucius Malfoy threatened me into testifying for him. And how scared I was to defy Voldemort's right hand man. Oh the horror! 'Mister Fudge, I am so sorry! He was just so scary!'" Harry said blinking his eyes rapidly and producing a very believable sniffle.
"I am the savior of the world Mister Malfoy, they would believe me over you in a heartbeat." Harry promised with a smirk that made his previous act of innocence fade fast.
Lucius narrowed his eyes in anger. The nerve of the impertinent brat. Harry could tell by the stiff positioning of his legs that Lucius was just itching to curse him. Harry smiled sweetly and a tad condescending as he handed over the contract.
Draco was impressed with the way Harry stood up to his father. It was thrilling to see Harry so in charge and dangerous. He quite liked it. He wondered how Harry had the time to put all of this together, then it hit him. Draco wanted to smack himself for not figuring it out sooner. Harry's top secret project was this! All those late nights and grueling hours had been spent on this. Harry did all of this for him. Draco sent Harry a powerful push of love. Draco wondered if he should care that Harry was threatening his father. He paused to think about it. Did it bother him? Mmm… no. He couldn't bring himself to give a damn. His father deserved whatever it was that was on that contract. As far as Draco was concerned, his father got off way too light. If ever there was someone who deserved Azkaban it was his father. So Harry was doing his father a great service indeed.
Harry reached behind him and squeezed Draco's hand but kept his eyes trained on Lucius. Something that everyone noticed.
By the time Lucius was done reading the contract his eyebrows were nearly nonexistent, they were so high into his hair line Harry wondered if they could get stuck up there. That would certainly make the man appear less intimidating. "This is all you want?" He asked thickly.
Draco's eyes widened. His father wasn't one for emotions, he prided himself in the Malfoy mask of indifference but Draco could hear them in his voice. What on earth was in the contract to have shaken his father like that?
"Yes, that is all I want. There are no ways out. I checked meticulously. Despite your Slytherin Rule #6: For every rule, there is always a loophole." At the startled noises from the Slytherins there Harry grinned wickedly.
"I owl ordered it after you admitted there was a handbook." Harry explained to Draco with a shrug. Harry shook his head, he still couldn't believe it was real. A Slytherin Handbook? So weird. Slytherins were odd creatures though. He reluctantly admitted to himself that the handbook did have some interesting pointers.
Harry pulled out a quill and handed it to Lucius. "This is a blood quill. Not the illegal medieval hogwash Umbridge made me use. But this will not only seal the contract it will bind your magic to its will. If you try and Slytherin your way out of this then your magic will turn on you. I can't say what exactly will happen if that happens. St. Mungos can have fun figuring that out. Is it legal? No but I don't give a fuck. The contract will only interfere with your magic if you break it. You will sign this or I will go to Fudge today." Harry threatened darkly.
Lucius shook his head. "There's no need for threats Mister Potter. I won't fight this." He said softly as he grabbed the quill and signed on the dotted line. The thrum of magic filled the air as the deal was made. Automatically a second copy emerged from the original. Harry handed that one to Lucius. "I will keep the original." Harry informed him. Lucius just nodded his head not saying anything, staring at Harry in a new light.
Harry handed the contract over to Draco knowing how curious he was. Draco picked up the contract impatiently but carefully as he read it over.
Those watching could see the shock on Draco's face. The widening of his eyes, the jaw dropping, the little gasp, it made everyone there itch to know what was so special in the contract.
"Harry." Draco whispered with such reverence and awe in his voice that it made some watching uncomfortable. Draco had tears in his eyes as he stared at Harry.
Harry could feel the emotions reeling off of Draco and had to fight to keep his composure. Draco flung himself at Harry burying his face into Harry's neck. Harry felt the enormous amount of love that Draco held for him and drank it in like he was dying. This right here was worth Lucius going free. He wrapped his arms around Draco and let Draco's scent lull him into the safety he could only find in Draco's arms.
Everyone watching was growing impatient. Narcissa made a restless noise at her husband, silently demanding answers. "The contract is for Draco. It states that I will not force or influence Draco's decisions regarding his future, his money or his life. I am to have no say in whatever Draco wants to do. I can give advice like any father but am not allowed to impede his decision process. I cannot dictate who he marries. I cannot force him to have any children. I cannot force him into any career I feel he should have. I cannot do anything regarding his wishes. Draco will not have the responsibilities of the heir to the Malfoy family. Draco's life will be his own choosing." Lucius said quietly.
Draco was still stunned. He couldn't believe it. Harry did this for him. All of it for him. He had known about the trial and saved his father anyways. Not only that but he managed to get his father off his back for good. He would never have to listen to his father again. Never have to be pressured to be the perfect pureblood heir. He could do whatever he wanted and his father couldn't do a damn thing about it. It had been one thing to go against his father before, but he had always feared that his father would a find a way around that. But now, there wasn't anything his father could do about this. Harry saved him all over again.
"You saved my husband… for Draco?" Narcissa asked quietly staring into Harry's eyes. Harry gave a kiss to the top of Draco's head as he nodded.
"I would do anything for your son Mrs. Malfoy. Including saving your husband. This was a small price to pay for Draco's happiness." Harry promised her.
Narcissa stared at Harry like he was a strange new creature that needed to be studied. She stared at him like he was an alien that told her she needed to leave the planet. She stared at him like he was a book that needed to be dissected to figure out any hidden meanings. It unnerved him. It made him feel like he was on display. What could she possibly be seeing as she stared at him? Were there hidden secrets on his face that he wasn't aware of?
"Thank you." She said finally. Whatever she saw in him she must have liked because she smiled softly and hugged both him and Draco. Draco gave a startled noise from his position in Harry's arms, his face still in Harry's neck.
Lucius watched his wife embrace Draco and his son's… lover… (he wrinkled his nose slightly at that thought) with something akin to pride. Potter gave him his family back. They weren't a normal family. They weren't warm and caring, they didn't do affections and rarely spoke of anything significant but they were a family regardless. And Potter gave him that back. Perhaps with the trial behind them he could be there for Draco like he had never been before.
Lucius has always known he wasn't a good father. You have to do more than just love your children. You need to be there for them. Which is something he failed miserably at. He had always sworn to be the father he never had. He always swore he would give his son the love that he didn't have growing up but he didn't. He failed his son in ways that crushed him. Lucius had become the one thing he swore he wouldn't be, he became his father. Abraxas Malfoy was a cold-hearted man that cared for no one. Not even his wife. Lucius had known that his father never loved him, he had known early on that he would never gain a damn thing from his father. Whether that be love, acknowledgement or even pride. Abraxas Malfoy cared only for himself. He was the epitome of the word bastard. All Lucius was to the man was an heir. Someone to take on the Malfoy name. With his father's last dying breath his words were 'don't disappoint me'. Shows how much he cared. Lucius had grown to be bitter, he locked away his heart to everyone except his wife. Sadly, his son had gotten shut out in the process. It was his biggest mistake in life.
Lucius watched them hug with regret. If only he had had this revelation sooner. Potter took away his rights as Lord Malfoy to dictate his heir. He should be upset, he should be angry that Potter would intervene in his private affair. But all he could muster up was a sense of freedom. He was free of the responsibility to make his son the best pureblood he could be. He was free of the job at grooming his son to take over. Lucius was free to be the father that he never got a chance to be. Potter gave him freedom in every sense of the word. And wasn't that surprising. His enemy for the longest time was the only person to ever give him freedom. Watching Potter hold his son was a humbling experience. Potter obviously cared about Draco a whole lot. The love that the two of them had reminded him of his own marriage. Lucius knew at this moment that Harry Potter would become part of the family in the near future. He couldn't bring himself to be upset either. Anyone that could do all this for Draco, deserved his approval. Like he told his son a month ago, there were worse people out there than Potter.
Severus Snape didn't like people. It wasn't a rule as much as it was a way of life. People couldn't be trusted to be there for you. Slytherin Rule #25: Trust is for the weak. – You can only ever truly trust yourself. His father had been an abusive waste of space. His mother had loved him the best she could until she died. Friends weren't something Severus could say he had. For the short time that he had Lily as his friend were his fondest moments in life. She was something else, an enigma that he could never quite understand all the way. She loved everyone and always saw the good in people. Lily was someone that Severus had strived to be like but never managed it. After he lost her friendship he drew in on himself. He became more bitter and angry then he ever wanted to be. He shot down opportunities that may have awarded him other friends and snapped at everyone and everything. He threw away every bit of himself that longed for something other than the solitude he forced upon his life.
Lucius had wormed his sneaky Slytherin way into his life whether Severus wanted him there or not. Severus had always known that Lucius would rejoin The Dark Lord when he came back to power but that didn't stop him from being close to the family. The Malfoy's had been the only people to bother to care about him since Lily. Severus had known that Lucius knew he wasn't as loyal to the cause as everyone assumed. But Lucius never turned him in and never questioned his loyalty. The day Narcissa and Lucius told him he was to be the godfather of Draco, his world changed. This family wanted him, a bitter cold man to be the godfather of their child. They cared and trusted him enough to be there for Draco. Which he had been. Severus may not have been there as often as he would have liked but he made sure Draco knew how much he cared about him. Draco was the one thing in his life that pushed him to be better. When he worried he would fall back into the dark arts, all it would take is one look at his godson's face and he knew what he would have to do.
Severus had known that Draco would have a difficult upbringing. Everyone would assume that he had the best childhood due to his father's wealth and status. But Severus knew that Lucius Malfoy was not fatherhood material. He knew that Draco would grow up craving something that his father just couldn't give him. Severus didn't know how to offset that. How do you make up for an absentee father? Severus worried for Draco his whole life. But now… watching Potter hold his godson like he was the most precious thing in the world, Severus knew he didn't need to worry anymore. He had doubts when Draco admitted to liking Potter. He had doubts that Potter would always have Draco's best interest in mind. Severus had worried for Draco's heart. After the childhood his godson had, he worried that Potter would harm him in ways that his father couldn't. But watching the way Potter's eyes shone with love for Draco washed away any concern he had held. It was obvious to any simpleton with a brain how much Potter cared for Draco. Severus knew that Draco would be okay.
Harry didn't know what to think when Narcissa hugged him. Would she have hugged him if he wasn't holding her son? Harry could feel Draco's wariness when she hugged him. He imagined she wasn't the maternal sort. Perhaps she didn't hand out many hugs? But he could also feel the small burst of happiness that her touch brought. Harry sighed contently and kissed Draco's head. Harry smiled when his kiss brought a fond happiness from Draco. He loved that he could affect his boyfriend like this.
"Potter." Hearing Snape's voice always made his spine go rigid. Because usually that meant he was in trouble. He looked over curiously. "Thank you." Harry tilted his head to the side. The admission felt like more than just gratitude for saving Draco. He wasn't sure what the man was completely trying to say so he just nodded in acknowledgement.
Lucius cleared his throat gathering everyone's attention. "I would like to invite everyone here back to the Manor for a celebratory dinner." He looked a little uneasy at inviting Weasley children in but extended the invitation regardless. Harry wanted to snort but valiantly kept it in.
The twins shared a surprised look with each other. "Thank you for the invite-" Fred began.
"But we shut down the store to come-"
"See Draco. We can't afford to keep it closed-"
"The rest of the night. Perhaps a raincheck?" George asked with genuine interest.
Lucius was about to respond when Draco suddenly threw himself at the twins who caught him in surprise. Lucius wanted to cringe at the lack of decorum his son was showing but had to squash the urge. It wasn't up to him what Draco did anymore. This would take some time getting used to.
"Thank you guys for being here." Draco whispered hugging them tightly. Fred and George shared a look before smiling down at Draco with a fond smile.
"Of course we would be here-"
"You are pretty much our brother in law." George said smirking when Lucius whimpered in horror. Severus snorted in surprise.
"Not to mention friend and lawyer." Fred said grinning proudly. Lucius and tilted his head to the side while Severus furrowed his brows in confusion. Lawyer?
Draco squeezed them one more time before stepping back into Harry's waiting arms. Draco grinned at them before the twins took off exchanging hesitant goodbyes with Blaise and Pansy. Lucius and Severus shared a surprised look at that.
"Are all my Slytherins throwing away tradition and partnering off with Gryffindors?" Severus asked affronted after the twins were gone. Harry raised an eyebrow while Draco, Blaise and Pansy broke out into laughter.
"Yes." Pansy and Blaise said at the same time. Severus shook his head but there was a slight twitch to his mouth.
"Shall we?" Lucius asked holding his arm out for Narcissa to hold onto. Harry and Draco shared a look.
Draco could feel the worry that Harry had at going to dinner with his parents. He was about to tell his father no when he felt Harry send him a reassuring push through the bond.
"You are sure?" Draco asked doubtfully. Harry sent him a confidence that didn't quite match his eyes. "Harry." Draco said in resignation. The rest of the group was watching the one-sided conversation with interest. What was going on with the two of them?
Draco tried to send Harry a calming push but that was shoved aside by Harry sending more reassuring pushes. "If you're sure." Draco didn't bother waiting for the emotions, he turned to his father.
"We would be happy to attend." Draco said cordially. Narcissa looked at her son with polite confusion. Lucius and Severus shared narrowed looks.
"What was that about?" Blaise demanded to know, not bothering to be polite or patient. Pansy snorted and shook her head.
"Nothing." Harry and Draco said at the same time, adopting a picture of innocence on their faces. Severus and Lucius snorted. Right, like that was believable. Perhaps that innocent act would work on simple minded Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors, but not them.
"Should we go? I am positively famished." Draco said hurriedly changing the subject. Which just raised alarm bells to the rest of the group. Draco didn't bother waiting for a reply. He turned around and started walking towards the door.
Harry shook his head but followed his boyfriend out of the room with a small smile.
"Please tell me we aren't going to leave it at that?" Blaise asked bewildered.
"Of course not. Did I teach you nothing? We are going to wait for the opportune moment before we ask again." Severus said sighing at the total lack of cunning Blaise possessed. How the boy managed to be placed in Slytherin was beyond him.
Blaise shrugged sheepishly before dragging Pansy out of the room with him. The three remaining adults shared concerned looks before following the rest of the group out.
Harry was walking side by side with Draco heading towards the public floos that would take them back to the Manor. He wanted to reach out and take hold of Draco's hand but decided against it. He wasn't ashamed of their relationship. Far from it. But now was not the time to come out to the press. It would negatively influence what he just did for the Malfoy family.
They had just turned the last corner before Harry was blind sighted by flashes of many cameras going off. Harry blinked rapidly trying to clear the black spots from his vision. When he could finally see again he realized Draco and he were surrounded by reporters on all sides.
"Mister Potter is it true you have been confunded into testifying?"
"Mister Potter have you in fact been a dark wizard this whole time? Is that why you testified for the Malfoy's?"
"Is it true you are having an affair with Lucius Malfoy and that is why you passionately defended him?" Harry choked on his tongue at that horrid mental image. Draco let out a squawk of disbelief.
"Why was it only the Malfoy's you defended? Why not other deatheaters?
"Have you been threatened to testify? Do you fear for your safety Mister Potter?"
The questions were flying so fast Harry couldn't tell who was saying what. The flashes of the cameras kept coming. Harry wasn't sure what to do.
"I am sure that you all have been informed of what was said in the courtroom. The reasons I testified are in the transcript of the trial. I am not going to repeat myself. There was no hidden agenda or secret reason why I testified. No I am not confunded or under the influence of any potions or spells. I testified of my own free will. I can honestly tell you that I am not having an affair with Lucius Malfoy." Harry shuddered at the thought. Oh gross. Wrong on so many levels.
"That is all I will say on the matter. Excuse me." Harry said coldly before shoving two reporters aside and dragging Draco with him. They flooed together not bothering to see if the rest of the group had been bombarded with questions too.
Draco landed with grace while Harry landed on the floor. "How is it that we went together but I am the only one who managed to fall?" Harry grumbled wiping off the soot that managed to get on his arse. It just wasn't fair.
Draco bit his lip to keep from laughing at his disgruntled boyfriend. "Because I have class?" Draco teased. Harry tried to glare, he really did but Draco's amusement was so infectious his glare was very weak.
"Class you say? And here I thought it was that ginormous head that kept you upright." Harry retorted as he wiped soot off of Draco's shirt that he missed.
"Well there's that too." Draco conceded grinning. Harry snorted good naturedly. "At least you can admit it."
"You say that like it's a bad thing. I think it is one of my many good qualities" Draco pouted.
Harry looked up incredulously. "You consider that ginormous head of yours a good quality?"
Draco shrugged. "Why not? It's gotten me this far in life. Besides I am not the one who lands on his arse every time we floo." Draco pointed out. "You could do with increasing your ego."
Harry laughed. "Draco love there is only room for one egotistical person in our relationship. And that spot goes to you."
"Well what do you expect from a gracious ruler? I can't exactly be a modest leader. Who wants to follow a well-rounded pleasant king? No no my great consort, you must be firm and harsh by crushing the opposition like any great dictator would. That is the way to win the hearts of the people." Draco said smirking at Harry's squawk of shock.
"Ahh, you are oh so wise my Lord. No wonder you are in a position of power. How could I ever doubt your intelligence?" Harry said with so much sarcasm the two of them started cracking up laughing.
"Are you two going to dawdle in here the whole time? If so let me know, I'll have the house elves serve you dinner in here." Lucius said dryly.
Harry and Draco looked up and saw the group in the doorway. Harry looked back to the fireplace in confusion. He hadn't heard anyone come through.
"We went out the back and apparated." Severus explained with a sneer at their questioning faces. Honestly did they not know how to use their brain?
"Geez Harry, why didn't we do that? We could have avoided all those reporters." Draco snarked taking hold of Harry's hand as he pulled him towards the group.
"You say it like it's my fault." Harry retorted with a shake of his head. He had been following Draco in the first place! "Well it is." Draco said with a smirk.
"Everything that goes wrong is your fault. Didn't you know?" Draco asked with faux astonishment.
"How silly of me to have forgotten." Harry said dryly causing everyone to laugh. Harry followed the group into the dining hall and wondered not for the first time, if he knew what he was doing. Dinner at the Malfoy's would surely be an experience to remember.