𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐁𝐎𝐖 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐒

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight: Vanilla Brown Frosting

Two weeks have past since the encounter in Malfoy Manor. Days after the grand ball took place within its well crafted walls; the event still remained the topic upon people's lips. Bitter ladies who were denied the opportunity to attend due to the lack of invitation were sour as ever, raving the faults of an occasion which they did not attend. Gentlemen far and wide boasted about the feast of food and women who were present in the party as the night had unfolded before them. It was the tale to be told, over and over again, of the handsome brunette who stalked the halls and yet did not even ask anyone to dance. Yes, Harry Potter let the opportunity pass; seemingly, he had other concerns of his mind.

It had been two weeks since his agreement with the head of the Malfoy family. It was challenging to face such a hard faced aristocrat. Yet now there lay an even greater task before him. Harry gave a hearty sigh as he walked into the room painted dark orange where his closest friends sat, waiting for his arrival. Inside four people sat patiently tea cups in hand as they all seemed to enjoy their afternoon tea. But all was not well for their expressions each held a subtle hint of anxiety for the urgent new that Harry would be telling them.

Sitting near the fire place on the rug, Hermione's long legs wrapped by denims were crossed in front of her as she held a big throw pillow to her chest. She refused to eat any of the snacks laid in front of them. It was the complete opposite to the man who sat near her, Seamus who had once again started to stuff his face with food once the treats were placed on the table. Beside the sandy haired man, sat Blaise quietly and calmly sipping his orange tea as he waited for Harry's presence to arrive. Ron however, was not the one who enjoyed surprises. Among the four of them, he fidgeted the most, rubbing his hands together and endlessly shifting his legs one over the other then vice versa.

Blaise gritted his teeth in annoyance. "Oh would you please stop it, Ron!" he burst out, abruptly pushing his cup on top of the table. He took a breath before continuing. "We're all worried about what Harry has to say; it's not just you, okay?" He said, with his hands tightening briefly into fists in front him. His deep midnight blue eyes glinted with annoyance, ready to strike Ron at any moment now. Ron argued back "It's not my blasted fault that I'm nervous about what Harry has to say!" the tone of volume of his voice only aggravating the other man further. Blaise fisted his hands.

It was lucky for the red-heated bloke that a hand stopped Blaise from getting his way. Hermione had stood up from her place by the fire to play peace maker yet again. Honestly, being in a circle with four guys always about her could seem like a zoo of uneducated animals rather then gentlemen at times. "You two stop it!" she said with a commanding voice and both boys knew immediately it wasn't a smart idea to cross her at the moment. "Harry needs us all right now. That's why we are all here" she said, with both hands on each ones shoulder now and squeezing to show them that she was sincere with her words.

On cue of the commotion that was taking place inside the sitting area, Harry walked inside with long strides and made his way to the center of the room. He took a deep breath and gave them no time to even react at his presence and delivered the news. "I'm getting married" he told them in a curt yet joyful voice with a big smile beaming from his face and his eyes shining with brilliance. The sentence left his friends in shock; Hermione barely let an "Oh my god" escape her lips as both her hands flew to cover her mouth, Seamus chocked on the biscuit he was eating with Blaise rushing to help him spit it out and Ron just sat there with his mouth wide open. It took the four of them quite some time to register what the brunette had just announced.

"What the bloody hell are you talking about, Harry?" Ron was the first to clear his mind. Truthfully he may look and sound like a moron at times but his heart was always in the right place.