[identity profile] dazzledfirestar.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] marysuevirus
Holyhead Harpies! I actually did it! I actually finished a flippin' chapter of this again! I am so sorry guys... really. I never meant for this to take this long. I'm hoping the next few will fly from my fingertips in rapid succession. :)

Title: The Mary Sue Virus
Chapter Title: Dinner
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: 18+
Warnings: Graphic Sexual situations, Oral, Angst
Disclaimer: The recognizable characters in this work of fiction and the world it is set in are the property of J.K Rowling and Warner Bros. Pictures. The original characters are the property of Dazzledfirestar, Nanaea, Madapple and Polywolly, and are not to be used without the permission of those individuals. I am not making any money from this and it is purely a flight of fancy for the purpose of entertainment.

She stared at the gates to the manor house for far longer than she should have, running every bit of information and advice she’d gotten through her head one last time before Draco took her hand and pulled her through the smoke like bars. The Ravenclaw in her wondered at the magic behind the gate, but she squashed the urge to ask about it. There’d be time for that later, assuming she made it through the evening.

Draco’s lips pressed against the back of her hand and his stare held her in place. “I don’t know how safe I can keep you here.”

It seemed an odd statement to make when welcoming someone to the house one had grown up in, but given the things that Rowena knew had happened in this very manor house, well… the statement made perfect sense. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself.”

Draco sighed, staring at the ground for a moment before speaking again. “No offense, but I would have put galleons on Haverty and Ironmonger being the ones able to handle themselves.”

Rowena suppressed the shudder that ran down her spine. “This is different. It’s not some kind of covert meeting of evil wizards. This is dinner with your family.”

He frowned and pulled her along as they made their way toward the door. “It’s the same thing.” He tried to keep the words under his breath.

He didn’t knock or ring any bell when they reached the door. He simply pushed the portal open and led her into the foyer of Malfoy Manor. “Draco, darling, is that you?” A cool, feminine voice echoed in off the high ceiling.

“Yes mother.”

Narcissa Malfoy knew how to make an entrance. There was no denying that. Granted she’d lived in this house for many a year and no doubt knew every shaft of light that invaded her space. But as the mistress of the house practically floated down the staircase toward the couple, Rowena was struck by the showmanship of it. “You’re early. That should please your father.” She didn’t smile, and barely glanced at her guest as she leaned in to press a kiss to her son’s cheek.

Draco didn’t miss a beat, and introduced her as soon as the house elf had taken her cloak. “Mother, this is Rowena Crystal.”

Rowena smiled as Narcissa looked her over. It was more than a little unnerving, but she’d figured out before leaving the school that unnerving was the name of the evening. All she really had to do was keep her cool, at least through dinner. Draco had told her time and again as they neared the house that she looked lovely, that the dress she wore, which had been her Yule ball dress for a few years running, was perfect and that she was beautiful. Under his mother’s critical gaze though, she wished she’d had more time to prepare. Perhaps a new dress… something green might have made the woman in front of her smile. As it was she was draped in deep blue with soft bronze accents. “You’re a Ravenclaw I take it.”

“Yes. My family has been in Ravenclaw for generations.”

Narcissa let out a small hum. “I’ve never heard your family name in our circles.” The implication in that statement alone almost made Rowena slump. “What does your father do?”

“He works for the Ministry, in the Portkey office.”

Another soft hum left Narcissa’s lips, giving little in the way of the woman’s opinions on the Portkey office, the Ministry in general or the girl standing before her. Rowena barely resisted the urge to smooth the skirt on her dress or tug at her sleeves. “And your mother?”

“She was a librarian before she and my father were married. She stayed home with my sisters and me when we were smaller. Now…” Rowena took a breath, trying to work out how to spin her mother’s job so that it might not sound too terribly bourgeois to Mistress Malfoy. “She works the occasional shift at Florish and Blots, to get out of the house. She says it keeps her entertained.” There, that shouldn’t sound too much like she came from a poor struggling family. She didn’t really, but every little knut, after all…

“Hmm.” Narsissa’s eyebrow rose disdainfully for a moment before she took several steps toward the nearby hallway. “Lucius, darling. Draco is home.” Her voice carried without her really having to raise it. Again, probably something she had learned in her years of manipulating people’s views of her in her own home, and again, Rowena was impressed.

Lucius Malfoy entered the foyer a moment later, book still clasped in his hand and looking slightly put out by the enter ordeal of having to leave his study. His eyes swept over Rowena in the same calculating manor his wife’s had. Without a word to the girl, he turned his attention to his son. “You’re early.”

“I wouldn’t want to keep you waiting, father.” Draco’s voice was level and held none of the scorn Rowena could see sparkling behind his eyes. “When is dinner?”

Lucius studied his son a moment longer before motioning him and Rowena toward the dining room.

The meal itself was a blur of questions and answers for Rowena. Every question, every action was silently accompanied by words of advice given from her friends. When the food was served, Azalea’s voice echoed in her head.

For Merlin’s sake, don’t acknowledge the house elves. Whatever it does, if they don’t notice it, you don’t notice it!

Lucius’ voice broke her concentration for a moment and she flinched. “I heard you mention sisters. What do they do?”

This time, Hyacinth’s voice filled her ears.

Don’t mention Helena’s husband! The gods only know how they’ll take news of a Muggleborn in the mix!

“My oldest sister is researching the Antipodean Opaleye in New Zealand. My other sister runs a bookstore in Dublin with her husband.” Rowena chose her words carefully nearly crossing her fingers under her napkin.

The same and now very familiar ‘hmm’ noise left Lucius as he took another bite of his meal. They hadn’t kicked her out by desert, so despite the lack of reaction from either of the Malfoys, Rowena had relaxed a little. Draco reached under the table and took her hand, shooting a warm look at her for a second before Lucius spoke again. “I think perhaps,” he swirled the liquid in his glass for a moment, “we should take this conversation into the study.”

She didn’t hear anyone’s voice that time. She simply saw the words she’d read in the text she’d discovered about pureblood marriage traditions. Draco squeezed her hand tightly for a moment, but nothing on his face showed the worry she knew must have been threading through every fiber of him.

The prospective mate would be inspected by the head of the family in whatever way he deemed fit.

“Shall we?” She’d missed Lucius and Narcissa stand and move toward the doorway.

Draco caught her eye and squeezed her hand again. She offered him the closest thing she could get to a smile in that moment. Whatever horrors lingered in the dark mind of his father, it would be alright. If she could do this… whatever it was, the prize was worth it. She’d get Draco without question. For that, she could endure nearly anything. She squeezed his hand back and inclined her head a little. “Alright, father. Let’s get this over with.”
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