Apples and Oranges [Drarry] ✔

Chapter 13: Touch and Go

"Oh, how comforting denial can be! Like the warmest blanket on the coldest night! Denial and hope and delusion all twisted in a tangle of comfort that's so easy to get lost in. And yet, denial and hope and delusion have limits too. And yet, there comes a time when you can no longer ignore the inevitable. And yet, in any story there is a point of no return – you've done what you've done and the outcome is not going to change no matter how much you try to compensate for your wrong decisions.

It was clear to me then that even though I would have done whatever it took to keep him, whatever it took was not going to be enough."

– Apples and Oranges by Francis Gallagher

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Draco insisted to side-along them to Malfoy Manor on Saturday but Harry couldn't tell if it was because he didn't want Harry to have even the slightest chance of being alone with his mother or because they were pretending like Harry had never been there before.

Either way, they arrived together, a unified front prepared for everything, and Harry kept wondering if he should brace himself for some overdue interrogation about his intentions, but so far there hasn't been anything of the sort.

Draco had masterfully sidestepped entering the Manor itself and had instead led them down a pathway half hidden by overgrown cypress trees to a patio in the back. Narcissa was already waiting for them.

Draco goes to her first. He gives her a short hug and kisses her cheek and then he motions for Harry to come closer.

"Mother," he says, hesitantly, "This is Harry Potter. My friend."

"We've met, Draco," she says with a small smile and pats Draco's arm. She stands up.

"It's nice to meet you, ma'am," Harry says and then Narcissa rolls her eyes.

"We've met, Mr Potter," she repeats in the same tone she used for her son. She takes Harry's hand into hers. "It's no use pretending otherwise. I've grown to appreciate honesty since we have last seen each other."

Harry blinks at her, not knowing what to say. Narcissa pats his hand and then lets go. Harry nods quickly, absently, and then says, "Honesty is good."

Draco doesn't manage to stop himself from snorting, but Narcissa is better than that. Her lips barely twitch as she sits back down.

Draco pours them tea – three perfectly made cups of Darjeeling, with half a teaspoon of sugar and only a dash of milk each. They bask in a surprisingly crisp morning. Even with the sun slowly dragging itself over the clear horizon and spilling over the south-facing patio, it's not hot.

Harry sips his tea. Narcissa does the same. Draco keeps flitting glances between the two of them.

His and Harry's eyes meet suddenly and Harry lifts his eyebrows. Draco doesn't say anything and he looks away, shifting his gaze to the faraway grove on his left.

"So, Mr Potter, you are interested in astronomy?" Narcissa asks after a while. Her teacup clanks loudly against the saucer making the silence that follows incredibly loud.

Harry steals a glance at Draco who is clearly trying not to look panicked but it's barely working. His eyes look ready to pop out of their sockets and his jaw is clenched so hard it must hurt.

"I, er, well, it's not precisely my area," Harry manages to mutter, hiding behind sips of tea. Narcissa raises a single inquisitive eyebrow.

"No?" Her voice is as delicate as the floral pattern on the porcelain set they're drinking from. "I thought you wished to use the grounds for stargazing tonight."