bloodline|drarry

13|poison

"history isn't kind to men who play god"

As November bled into December, Harry started noticing many things about his roommate. Like how when it was raining, Draco always slept with the window open so he could hear the rain outside. When he was stressed out about school, he would usually drop everything and go flying. He loved anything that smelt like apple or vanilla and he was obsessed with keeping his side of the room completely spotless. Draco was such an interesting person, just being around him was calming. He had this essence of someone who just took so much care with their life, it was something that Harry admired.

Harry also noticed how exquisite the boy was, he'd lost his baby face in his third year but since then he just kept getting even more gorgeous; there was a reason he had such a reputation before the war. He'd stopped gelling his hair down this year, although it was still neat, it was now shaved at the sides, the top styled around his face; normally pushing it back so it lay messily but he was finally embracing his wavy hair. He also wore glasses, only for reading, which Harry learnt he did a lot of; a large stack of books from his library at home were piled up next to his bed.

Draco always had a book on him, his long pianist fingers elegantly flipping through the crisp pages, his face intently focused on the dark letters and decorative covers. Harry was surprised at how calm the boy was, he always assumed that he was a complete spoiled brat who had everyone do everything for him; since living with the boy, he had realised how independent Draco actually was.

They were sitting on their windowsill, Harry was spinning his wand about in his hands, Draco was- surprisingly enough -reading a book, a cigarette in his other hand. They weren't talking, but a record player that Hermione had given Harry for christmas in sixth year was playing an old queen record, Sirius had given him that one.

Ooh, love, ooh, loverboy

What're you doin' tonight, hey, boy?

Set my alarm, turn on my charm

That's because I'm a good old-fashioned loverboy.

The window was open, it was snowing outside, gentle white flurries cascading down onto the Hogwarts grounds. Harry was sitting very comfortably, an oversized cable knit jumper draping off his shoulders, the fire admitting all the heat they needed. The ambient light casting velvet-black shadows were dancing up the wall. Draco looked up at Harry, a puzzling look on his face.

"Potter?" he asked, closing his book and putting it down on the floor.

"Yeah." Harry responded, he was still staring out the window, the snow getting heavier; it was beginning to cover the grass.

"Why aren't you afraid of me?"

It was a serious question, but Harry snorted, realistically Malfoy was as scary as a teddy bear.

"Seriously? I have worse nightmares about failing defence against the dark arts."

Malfoy frowned, stubbing his cigarette out and standing up, brushing down the shirt he was wearing. It was a dark green and tucked into black trousers, it was loosely unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a silver chain that dangled around his neck. "Appreciate it Potter" he sneered "I have to go, a letter from my darling mother awaits."

He wrapped his velvet cloak around his shoulders and whipped out of the room.

-

Draco was on his way to the owlery, it was around this time of year that he received his invitation to the annual christmas ball at Malfoy Manor. Draco knew this year his mother would be going all out since Lucius was in Azkaban, all of their family friends would be there as well as every Ministry official in the book. Draco always looked forward to the ball, and this year was no exception. It would be the first time he had seen Theodore and Adrian since the war, they were not doing an eighth year.

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his cloak, mentally reminding himself to bring his gloves if he went back out. The fresh, airy snow was collecting on his boots, crunching his way through the grass. The falling snow had calmed down, now just softly gathering on his hair and cloak. He cautiously walked up the icy steps to the owlery, making sure not to slip, he didn't want to be wiping more blood off of his face, he'd had enough for one term.

As soon as Draco stepped into the owlery, his owl flew down onto his arm, dropping a cream envelope into his hand. The familiar swirly handwriting of his mother was written in green ink on the front, he turned the letter over, the wax seal of the Malfoy family crest was emblazoned on the back. He shoved the letter into his inside pocket, feeding his owl before sending her off to her perch.

Draco wandered back out to the courtyard, the snow had stopped, only leaving a thin layer lying over the Hogwarts grounds. He pushed the door to the school open, the heat hitting his face; his cheeks warming up as he walked his way to the library. He brushed the snow off his cloak and shuffled the snow off of his boots, he passed the great hall, the scent of dinner filling his nose. He paused, his stomach giving an involuntary growl, he sighed, detouring into the warm hall.

He walked swiftly through the great hall, he sat down next to Pansy and Blaise at the Slytherin table, Pansy started piling food on his plate. "Welcome back Dray." She smiled smugly, Blaise gave him the same look, shoving some of his chicken pie into his mouth. He took the letter out of his pocket, sliding it onto the table. His friends gave him a knowing look, they had both been there every year since they were eleven. "You don't need to come this year, but I'd really appreciate it if you could." Draco admitted, it was the first year that the ball wouldn't be a particularly happy experience for him, the support from his friends would mean the world to him.

Pansy wrapped an arm around his shoulder, squeezing him tightly, "of course we'll be there, it gives me an excuse to wear my gorgeous new dress too" Pansy grinned, Draco let out a sigh of relief. "Well... are you gonna open it, or just stare at it?" Blaise chimed in, Draco gave him a playful kick on his shin from under the table, pulling an emerald handled letter opener from his pocket; picking off the seal.

Draco dearest

I hope everything is going well and no one is giving you any trouble since coming back. This year our annual Christmas ball will still go ahead, feel free to invite any of your friends, everyone is welcome as usual. The dress code is strictly formal so remind them of that.

I do have one request however, if he is comfortable with returning, I would like you to invite Harry Potter. He saved yours and my life and I think the least we can do is invite him to a party. You must promise to invite him, if he does not want to attend then that is perfectly fine, but you must ask, I will know if you haven't Draco.

Please let me know who is coming as soon as you can.

I send you all my love and I await your reply.

Narcissa.

"Fucking hell." Draco slammed the letter down onto the table "she's actually gone mad, my mother has gone mental." He muttered, placing his head in his hands. Blaise picked up the letter, scouring over it with his eyes, he expression dropped when he read the part about Potter, he handed the letter to Pansy; trying very hard not to laugh. "Well it looks like you have a conversation to go have" Blaise laughed, standing up. "Good luck my love." Pansy kissed his cheek, Draco grumbled out of the hall. Setting out to find Potter.