Chapter Eleven of 'Providence'- What Harry Potter Argued

[lomonaaeren]

Thank you again for all the reviews!

Chapter Eleven—What Harry Potter Argued

“I’m sorry to see you leaving us so soon, Mr. Potter.”

Harry smiled tightly at the Spanish liaison assigned to him, now that Rodrigo had made it clear he wouldn’t work with Harry any more. He was a perfectly nice man with the first names of Juan Felipe—Harry couldn’t remember his surnames at the moment—but he had keen brown eyes that made Harry feel as if he were being scrutinized to be chopped up into Potions ingredients. He’d had enough of that when he was still a student in Snape’s class.

“Well, urgent business calls me back to Britain,” he said brightly, and stepped away from the desk behind which Juan Felipe sat. Urgent business, ha. I want to get out of here before I explode at someone.

It didn’t help that in the last day, he’d got very little sleep—thanks to Draco’s insistence on taking the bed and his own inability to conjure a good replacement bed out of the floor—and that Draco had made several remarks about blood status that caused Harry to grit his teeth. It seemed Draco had changed his mind about fewer things than Harry thought.

This is never going to work. We’re never going to survive.

But Juan Felipe didn’t need to know about any of that, so Harry turned his back on him and started to walk away.

“Is that why another Auror showed up to retrieve you, the evening before yesterday?” Juan Felipe called, leaning out after him.

Harry choked on hysterical laughter. Yes, Draco is an Auror. Because part of an Auror’s duty is to curse people who displease him. But it was simpler to have other people think that, so Harry simply shrugged and ducked out of the office into the hot bright day.

He couldn’t enjoy the sight of the buildings—now more advanced than he’d seen them when he first came to Madrid—or the billowing pavilions the way he might have a few days ago. Draco’s face obscured everything, and his drawling voice overpowered even the sound of Hammering Charms.

Of course I wouldn’t expect someone like Granger to understand that, with her blood. Blood runs to the brain.

Have you considered how lucky you are, that one of your parents was someone?

Blood traitor? You ought to know what it means by now, Potter, but I’m willing to explain it to you. It means someone who literally turns their back on their own blood, the most important thing of all. You can betray principles and people and still have a place of honor, but to betray what runs in your own veins… And Draco had finished with a solemn headshake that made Harry want to grip and shake him.

He despises me and my best friends, as well as half the people who work at the Ministry, since they’re all either Muggleborns or committed to making things work with the Muggle world. What makes him think that he can get away with saying that to me? He was more polite to random people who wanted money from him.

And then Harry paused, leaned against a building façade to watch the architects levitating a ton of stone above his head, and swore softly.

He was polite to them because he thought it would damage his reputation if the news that he still hated Muggleborns got out, and they were strangers who cared nothing about him and might try to hurt him. But he believes that I won’t do anything to him because I’m in love with him.

Harry snorted under his breath and began to walk more swiftly towards the house where Draco still waited. (It was with difficulty that Harry had persuaded him out of coming to the Ministry; he seemed to assume that Rodrigo would try to pounce on Harry the moment he was out of Draco’s sight). If it were just him Draco was hurting, he might hesitate, yes. But this had the potential to hurt his best friends.

And if Draco thinks I’ll give them up just to have him, he’s having problems with the connections between his blood and his brain.

*

Something had changed in the time Potter was gone.

Draco scowled as they went through the last Apparition and landed outside the London Ministry with a slight bump. I should have put the spy spell on him after all. That will show me to be too trusting.

Potter stood looking at him with concentrated attention of the kind that Draco didn’t like for a long moment, then turned towards the phonebox that would give them entrance into the Ministry. Draco followed closely. Potter didn’t acknowledge him one way or the other. Even when they rode the phonebox down and emerged into the Atrium, Potter kept walking as if he had devastatingly handsome men at his heels all the time.

Draco felt jealousy waver up through him like the smoke from a bonfire. Potter was able to sustain attraction to men, as Draco had seen in Spain; it wasn’t like Draco was the only one he’d ever looked at with admiration. And it was ridiculous to expect him to stay celibate and faithful to the image of Draco for two years, especially when his letters plot proved that he hadn’t ever expected a chance.

He might have dated other men. Some other men might have had him, or even walked in Draco’s exact same position.

That took Draco’s attention away from Potter’s arse, which he otherwise would have been watching. He jogged up to Potter’s shoulder and hissed in his ear.

“Have you had a boyfriend?”

Potter slewed him a look of astonished disgust. “Do you really think the Prophet would have left me alone if I had?” he responded, never breaking stride.

Draco dropped back with a small frown. Yes, I forgot that. Rita Skeeter, at least, who had been so insistent on naming any woman whom Potter spent time with as his girlfriend, would doubtless pounce on the news that the Chosen One was homosexual.

He was angry with himself for forgetting that, and it made him step up closer to Potter when they got on the lift with another Auror—tall, handsome, dark hair and eyes—who smiled at Potter and started a conversation about some obscure criminological matter. That man looked at Draco and dismissed him with a single glance as someone who couldn’t possibly be interested in their chatter. Draco half-lidded his eyes to conceal the rising rage.

He wasn’t sure that he wanted anyone else to know he was dating Potter yet, but he had to stake his claim somehow. He rested a hand on Potter’s arse and kept it there, out of sight of the dark-haired bloke, spreading his fingers and then relaxing them in a gripping, squeezing pattern.

Potter tensed, but didn’t otherwise respond. When they reached the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, he did make a point of moving away from Draco as soon as possible.

Draco followed him, calmer now. Potter could be discreet when the moment called for it. Draco was glad to know that, as it destroyed several dangerous scenarios that had been building up in his mind.

“Back, then, Harry?” Kingsley Shacklebolt still had piercing eyes, but that was less troubling than the way he looked from Draco to Harry with barely concealed amusement.

Potter put his report on the table and began talking in a monotone. Draco leaned against the wall, arms folded, and met Shacklebolt’s stare without flinching whenever the man had the nerve to look at him.

He couldn’t wait to get Potter out of the Ministry and into the Manor. Potter was too comfortable here and had too obvious a familiarity with the ground. Draco wanted the walls of his own home around him, and privacy for such sharp, drawling words as he was pleased to speak.

He wasn’t insensible. A coldness had fallen between them since the day before yesterday, when they’d made such sweet promises to each other. But Draco didn’t intend to give up that sense of rich life without a fight.

And then they stepped out of the Minister’s office and ran straight into Weasley.

*

Harry sighed silently as Ron saw him. His friend smiled and stretched out his hand. “Oi, Harry, we’ve been lonely without you for the last—”

Then his eyes focused on Draco, and they narrowed, and the last traces of pleasantness were swept away. Maybe Ron could deal with Draco when he was alone and asking questions about bouncing ferrets, but seeing him walking behind Harry was another thing altogether. And Harry knew that Ron still retained some trace of his old fear that Harry would abandon him for a different, richer set of friends.

Harry turned adroitly so that his body was between them and said, “Ron, you know Draco Malfoy, of course. Draco, you know Ron Weasley.” He tilted his head back towards Draco and gave him a cold-as-glass look, so that he would know how he was expected to behave.

He’d done his work well, because Draco liked to set the tone of conversations. On the other hand, if someone had said something that should prevent a confrontation, then Draco wasn’t gauche enough to start one. He glared back at Harry and held out his hand so that Ron could clasp it.

Ron looked almost ill, but at least he did it. Then he turned to Harry and said loudly, “I need to talk you to about important Auror business.”

“Anything you can say in front of Harry, you can say in front of me.” Draco’s voice was all polite courtesy, but the hand he laid on Harry’s arse was anything but.

Harry held his face still with an effort. What is he playing at? He must know that Ron isn’t interested in dating me. Not that nearly as many people are interested in dating me as he thinks.

“No, I really can’t,” Ron said, his temper smoldering like a brushfire in his gaze. “It’s also private Auror business.”

Harry knew that Draco had widened his eyes, even though he wasn’t looking at him right now, because that was in his tone. “But Harry and I are dating now, and I know that he’s an Auror and does dangerous things. Don’t you think I have the right to hear how dangerous they are, in case I lose my boyfriend?”

Oh, that’s torn it now, Harry thought in resignation as Ron took a step closer and thrust his face right into Harry’s. Draco doesn’t like to start confrontations, but of course he can manipulate people into doing it.

“You’re dating the prick?” Ron whispered to him. “What about Ginny?”

“Are you going to allow him to insult me, Harry?” Draco murmured into his ear at the same moment.

Harry badly wanted to smash both their heads together, but he preferred a direct answer, so he launched into it without waiting. “I gave up on Ginny a long time ago, Ron, and she gave up on me. She’s happy the way she is. When she wants to date someone, then she will. And I’ve been in love with Draco for two years. I’ll thank you not to insult him.”

Ron blinked at him. Harry could feel Draco’s smugness in the way he pressed closer to Harry from behind. He thought he’d won because Harry had taken the time to address Ron.

He fails to realize that I’m only addressing Ron first, Harry thought, and turned around. “And he has no reason not to insult you, not when you think he’s a blood traitor,” Harry said. “Really, Draco, I don’t know why you want to stay with me. You’ve made it clear in the last few days that you think I’m nothing more than a half-blood who’s lucky to have a chance with a fine specimen of pure-blood masculinity like yourself.” He said the last phrase in an absolutely flat and neutral tone, which he knew would drive Draco mad. “You hate my friends, including my Muggleborn best friend, simply because of the families they were born into. If you want me, that will have to change. You’ll probably say that you shouldn’t have to change your beliefs for me, but the belief that other people are rubbish? That’s worth changing. That’s worth challenging. I’ll try to respect your other beliefs, but I can’t respect you for that one. And I care enough about you to want this relationship to succeed, so no, I will not just keep quiet and then burst out scolding you one day.”

There. Clear, calm, powerful delivery, and fast enough that neither Draco nor Ron had the chance to interrupt. Harry fastened his gaze on Draco’s face and waited.

*

That’s what’s bothering him? Of all the stupid—

But Draco caught his temper and threw it backwards when he saw the way Potter’s eyes were narrowing. Obviously, to Potter, this was not a stupid objection, and Draco had not made his reputation as someone who could coexist with Muggleborns by disregarding his opponents’ convictions. And he had to remember how long Potter had watched him, how well he knew the subtlest expressions of Draco’s face. He might detect contempt that an ordinary observer would not.

Draco lowered his eyes and took a deep breath. He would wait a few moments, until the impact of Potter’s speech had faded and he would not look as if he had an immediate reaction at all. Many people were impressed by the appearance of thoughtfulness. Potter would expect that at the bare minimum from him.

Weasley interrupted, loud and braying, before Draco could marshal his words. “Why would you give him a chance at all if he thinks that, Harry?” he asked furiously, shouldering towards Potter, who now stood with his back to him. He put a hand on Potter’s shoulder and shook it. Draco had to repress an immediate snarl. No one should touch him as roughly as that but me. “Just ditch the bastard and have done with it.”

“No,” Potter said, and stepped forwards until Weasley’s hand slipped off. He seemed to feel neither fear nor elation at being this close to Draco, but only intensity. His eyes had never wavered. “I want him. I love him. I’ll give him a chance. He said that he did want to have a chance to love me. But he’ll never get that if he can’t change his mind about me and my friends.” He raised a brow. “I won’t sleep with someone who thinks he’s slumming when he’s with me.”

“I never thought that,” Draco snapped, stung into fury. “Why would I? Your name, your face—”

“Aren’t good enough reasons,” Potter said calmly. “I already know that you’re attracted to me. That could be cause enough for some temporary fun.” The faintest flush on his cheeks showed that he was probably remembering their encounter in the room at Madrid, but it didn’t show in his voice. “But no more than that. If you want more than that, you’ll have to meet and face this first test.”

Draco thought swiftly. A mere promise not to talk about things like this around Potter wouldn’t work. Neither would saying that he didn’t mean it that way; he’d tried that and Potter had discarded the words the way he could an Imperius Curse. Potter wanted something more, a revolution in Draco’s deepest beliefs.

And would that be so bad?

Draco wrinkled his nose against the thought, but the voice of his own and his family’s advantage was not so easily silenced. If you have children and teach them contempt for Mudbloods, they’re likely to go to school and show that off, the way you did when Lucius taught you. Children that young simply don’t have much respect for propriety, even when they try. And it will be far less easy for them to receive social advancement if they have those beliefs. It’s a different world now than it was when you were a child, and by the time you raise any children, it will be more different still.

Thanks in large part to Potter.

Draco forced himself to remain still for a few moments more, not only to look as if he would think over Potter’s words but to really think them over. And each time, he met the same obstacle. There were several circumstances in favor of his giving up such a belief, but he couldn’t change so fast.

And he couldn’t abandon his pride.

He stared into Potter’s eyes. Potter looked unsympathetic, his face stern, his eyes almost blank with seriousness, but Draco knew better. Somebody merely asking for help was usually enough to melt Potter’s heart.

So be honest about your objections. In the end, Potter will help you over the barrier himself.

Draco cleared his throat. “I simply can’t give up something I believe as if it were a missed meal,” he said. “And you wouldn’t believe me if I claimed I could.”

A grim smile flickered along the corners of Potter’s mouth. “Got it in one.”

Draco did his best to ignore the mocking tone of the words. “So I’ll need time, if I do commit to giving it up,” he said. “And there’s my pride.”

“I don’t want you to give up your pride,” Potter said quietly.

Draco furrowed his bow.

“I only want you to give up your arrogance.” Potter leaned forwards. “You can be proud of your family. I’m proud of my parents, and especially when I remember that my mother sacrificed her life for me, and without that none of us might be alive right now.”

A Mudblood’s sacrifice shouldn’t be strong enough to block the most powerful Dark Lord in a hundred years. But Draco was resigned to the fact that it had happened, no matter how much he might wish otherwise, so he only nodded in response to Potter’s words.

“You can’t treat others like they’re rubbish,” Potter said. “You need to respect that I have a viewpoint which won’t always complement your own, though the women you dated in the past might have had one like that. You need to show respect towards my friends. You need to explain any serious objections to me, and I’ll do my best to answer them.”

“And what will you give up in return?” Draco demanded instantly. He knew that his father would see this as an unequal bargain, and training at home, in his House, and during the war had ensured that Draco would never make one of those.

Potter laughed in his face. “Find something about me that annoys you as much as your arrogance annoys me, and which you can persuade me to give up, and then perhaps we can bargain. Otherwise, this is simply a condition that I’m putting in place.”

“An unfair one,” Draco said, making one final try. “Would you demand that every pure-blood in the world change their beliefs?”

“Not every pure-blood,” Potter said. “Ron’s family doesn’t have those beliefs. And I think there’s a difference between beliefs in the value of your culture and beliefs that say other people literally aren’t human and shouldn’t be treated like they are. There’s no reason for the last except to puff yourself up and justify cruelty towards them.” He stepped closer to Draco, and the intensity from before was in his face again. “Convince me that you’re superior on your own, without denigrating others. Show me what you can do.”

Damn him. Potter knew Draco as well as Draco knew him. He had chosen a tactic that appealed directly to Draco’s pride. Of course he knew that Draco would want to show him exactly why the Malfoy way of life was so superior to the Mudblood one, and of course he knew that Draco’s confidence he could do so was up to the challenge.

It appeals directly to my pride, Draco thought again, and then he thought of the letters from his writer, and the moment of lust he’d shared with Potter in the room in Madrid, which was more passionate than anything he could remember sharing with a woman.

And it’s irresistible.

“I’ll do it,” he said abruptly. Then he sneered at Weasley over Potter’s head. “And you should watch out, Weasley, because by the time you get your friend back you won’t know him anymore.”

*

Harry couldn’t conceal his triumphant smile, so he didn’t try. He knew that Draco hadn’t entirely surrendered; he would still try to find some excuse for calling Hermione a Mudblood and separating Harry from his friends. But he could try all he liked. It wasn’t as though he’d succeed at either of those things.

“Harry—” Ron said behind his back.

“Not right now,” Harry said, in the same gentle, commanding tone that he’d sometimes used to calm criminals down. Ron knew not to interfere when he heard it. Draco sneered when he saw Ron back off, though, as though he thought Ron was some kind of obedient slave. Harry merely smiled. He’ll learn better soon enough. “I’ll talk to you later and explain everything, all right? But not immediately.” He looked over his shoulder at Ron and smiled.

Ron squinted and flushed, but nodded. Harry squeezed his arm in gratitude. He knew that his friends would have to adjust to Draco as Draco adjusted to them, but not as much, so Harry felt free to ask for some indulgence from them at first.

“Shall we go?” Draco reached out an arm as if he were going to escort Harry from the Ministry the way he would a female date, then hesitated.

Harry took the arm, and Draco started a bit. As long as I can keep him guessing, Harry thought happily. “Of course,” he said. “The Manor first?” He didn’t think Draco would want to wait long to break the news to his mother.

“Of course,” Draco repeated, and laid his hand over Harry’s. The gesture seemed to increase his self-confidence, if the way his eyes widened and his face flushed hungrily was any indication. Harry barely kept from rolling his eyes. The idiot has his mind far too full of plans for subduing me, still, instead of living with me as an equal partner.

Well. I’ll take care of that soon enough.

Harry shook Ron’s hand, and then he and Draco paraded out of the Ministry. They received plenty of stares and whispers, which Draco reveled in, if the smug tilt of his head was any indication. Harry had to conceal a smile, but he was damned if he’d show Draco that.

When they were outside, Draco turned to face him. “The wards around the Manor prevent Apparition by anyone except immediate family members, and I want to leave them intact, for the sake of Mother’s safety,” he said. “So you’ll need to Side-Along Apparate with me.”

Harry stepped unhesitatingly forwards. It was all too clear that Draco expected him to act like some kind of shy, blushing virgin, and Harry was determined to disappoint him.

Draco, though, lowered his head and used his arm to crush Harry to his side, whilst his eyes locked with Harry’s. The gaze was more than hungry, it was devouring, and Harry shuddered with a mixture of pleasure and unease so strong that he barely noticed the sensation of the Apparition.

They arrived in the large garden that Harry had seen mostly from a distance since the war, and Draco escorted him towards the house. His arm never left Harry’s shoulders; his eyes never left Harry’s face, despite the danger of tripping on the gravel path in front of him and perhaps doing his pride and his face both an injury, which Harry knew he’d hate. He told himself that Draco was probably just too confident to look, given how well he knew this path, but he didn’t think that was the real answer.

The doors swung open in front of them. The house-elf holding them bowed low. Draco didn’t even look up. He just handed Harry carefully up the steps, and then placed his hands on his shoulders, turning him in a circle so he could see both the portraits and the lack of color in the immense entrance hall.

“Welcome to my home,” Draco said into his ear, making Harry shiver and crave closer contact still.

Welcome to my home ground, he might as well have said.

Harry shivered again as Draco’s hands moved, fingers playing gently up and down the nape of his neck and twining into his hair. He suspected that Draco would do his very best to get vengeance for the advantage over him Harry had obtained in the Ministry. He should be cautious.

But if he had wanted someone safe, there would have been plenty of other choices.

I can’t wait for the game to begin.

Chapter 12.

Comments

[calmnla.livejournal.com]

Neither can I! These two are having fun competing at an advanced level. I'm having fun being privy to both!

[astartes-amazon.livejournal.com]

There's a thrill in the air... I can't wait to see what happens next!

I'm finding it fascinating how we see Draco through Harry's changing viewpoints, at first he was out of reach, perfect, and I really did believe that! But now he's closer... the image changes, and yeah, it's just really interesting.

P11 (aka Tomfoolery)

[inviticus1.livejournal.com]

"I can’t wait for the game to begin." Oh dear, the game seem well afoot already, and what more juicy episodes remain? I wish I were coherent enough to continue with platitudes of awe and gratefulness, but bed beckons for early AM conference calls, alas!

Thanks again for this contribution!

[invincible-sum.livejournal.com]

Wheeee again! Sexy maneuvering all around. I like Draco's possessiveness, and that he's willing to reconsider his less savory beliefs, even if it's more for practical reasons than because he no longer looks down upon half-bloods and muggles and so one somewhat. I like Harry's self-assurance in refusing to just bow to Draco's desires, and the trust which he and Ron share that makes Ron take a step back when asked, rather than just continuing to blow up at Draco. ... But I do miss Rodrigo a bit, even though he of course could not remain with Harry. Since he and Astoria were both such engaging supporting players, perhaps they should end up together ;-)

[maple88.livejournal.com]

dlaksfj;alskdjfa;ds!!! I can't wait for the game to begin either!
This story just keeps getting better and better!

[bgreenwivy.livejournal.com]

YES! YES! YES! You updated and made my day! I mean honestly it was sexy and fun and challenging at the same time. I am not usually a big fan of bottom Harry but this one has just enough spice to make it interesting brava!

[ura-hd.livejournal.com]

I cannot wait for the game to begin as well! Great chapter!

[aubergineautumn.livejournal.com]

Ok, I couldn't figure out how you would push the story forward, but this is an interesting direction.

[beatnikspinster.livejournal.com]

I love Draco's welcome. Very sexy! :)

[jtsbbsps-dk.livejournal.com]

Omg, this is seriously AWESOME!!
*\o/* let the game begin! XD
I can't describe how much I love this! &hearts!!!!!!

[kawanale.livejournal.com]

wow, i'm a bit confused. harry has been in love with draco for two years. conceived that elaborate scheme using astoria to make draco happy, and now he's making things difficult for draco? hmmm, there must be another side to harry that i haven't caught on to in previous chapters. he does want draco, but on his terms, no? what will draco do now? hmmm. it is a good confusion, no worries. :-D

*claps hands in glee for the next chapter*

[fantasyfruitbat.livejournal.com]

I really like how it hasn't just become a happy, fluffy ending the moment they got together and how Draco is a good deal less perfect than Harry thought to start with. I have no idea how this may turn out but I can't wait to find out!!

[(Anonymous)]

Oh wow. *grins* That was just a beautiful chapter. I love this Harry, the one that's appeared within the last couple of chapters but this chapter particularly. He seems to have grown. I love the fact that in this chapter Harry was almost Slytherin, not just in how he handled Draco and Ron but in the fact that he is aware of the fact that Draco will do the same to him.

[star-faerie.livejournal.com]

Opps! I forgot to sign in.

[cassie-black12.livejournal.com]

Another great chapter -- I get so excited when I see you've updated.

[dampandghostly.livejournal.com]

i love this story so far. their interactions in this chapter are great. i especially liked seeing how harry handled the situation between ron and draco.

hope you don't mind if i friend you because i'm really enjoying your fics!