An End And A Beginning

15: The Plumes of Fountains

A/N Warning: this chapter does include some vaguely smutty content (not explicit so it's not marked).

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Draco had turned the fountains on in the formal gardens especially for the occasion and although it was still light, the day was dreary and whiteness of the cold didn't seem to be lifting. It meant the outside Christmas lights in the trees sparkled in frostiness of the day as they made their way from the family crypt back to the main house. He didn't like the crypt. The last time he'd been there was his Grandfather Abraxas's funeral and shortly before the return of Voldemort. The associations with that time weren't particularly good because there was an inherent knowledge that something dark was brewing to the backdrop of the Triwizard Tournament. Nor was losing the only grandparent he'd ever really known particularly joyful, even if Abraxas was more than intimidating as a figurehead of the family.

As Lucius was interned into his stone tomb, Draco stood beside Harry, once more wanting to desperately reach out and hold his hand. Harry had removed his hat again and Draco had wondered why the Aurors bothered with them for they'd all taken them off in the chapel too. Funeral etiquette, he supposed. Despite being surrounded by his new family members, he vaguely moved closer so their arms touched lightly and that was nearly the comfort he needed as they both watched the grave attendants lower the coffin into the stone sarcophagus. He had been grateful in the car that they could actually hold hands discreetly between them. Or perhaps it wasn't so discreet but Angelina didn't even glance their way. It was then that he realised Harry was wearing the Tiger's Eye ring for the funeral, surely an incongruous addition to his military uniform...

Draco was invited to step forward and place the cane back on top of the coffin and he took a deep shaky breath as he did so. This part of the day was seeped in finality, especially when the attendants slid the stone top into place and there was a resounding and conclusive thud in the freezing darkness as the lid dropped into place. The orange light of the wall sconces flickered in the gloominess and Draco couldn't wait to escape, it was too much of a depressing reminder of his own mortality and where he'd end up too. He understood why his mother had opted not to attend this part and decided to go up to main house with the guests who chose not to come to the crypt but leave that part for immediate family.

Afterwards, the party who had attended the internment walked slowly across the parkland and through the formal gardens back to the Manor. They passed Matthew and a group of workers who had come to pay their respects but didn't want to impose on such a personal and private family occasion. Draco shook their hands—each and every one of them—and thanked them for their consideration.

Yes, he welcomed the Christmas lights they'd created and was glad his mother had insisted that he and Harry had decorated before they had guests at the Manor. The grounds looked particularly lovely and reminded him of days before Riddle had come into his life. When they got into the house, he welcomed the roaring fire and warmth of the large drawing room with its Christmas tree and twinkling lights and decided that yes, he could cement happier days and happier memories in the Manor and purge himself of those few years by treating them as the exception to the rule.

Harry discarded his peaked cap and sword completely when he set too in the kitchen and Draco was impressed that he would even deign to go near food in his No.1 uniform.

'Doesn't it worry you?' he asked. 'I mean, the thought of getting anything on that uniform is petrifying.'

Harry quirked a lopsided smile and said, 'there are some very good cleaning spells these days.' And he went back to preparing platters of food ready to take to a table they'd set up purposely. Angelina helped him as she'd been invited to stay on. Draco had a feeling that Etienne wanted to regale her with stories about the grandfather she'd never met.