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January 2nd, 2009
12:37 pm - 12 Days of Christmas Challenge Day 8: Starry Evenings post 3 of 3
Written for 12 Days of Christmas Challenge
Title: Draco and the Green Carnation Club
Author: Localfreak
Fandom: Harry Potter
Ship: None
Summary: Draco decides to learn how to deal with the lot he's been given
Sequel to: Percy and the Green Carnation Club
Please Read The Prologue to Draco and The Green Carnation Club first.
Percy shivered and was relieved to get into the warm air of the club atrium and relinquish his (handmade) gloves and winter cloak to Peter on reception, before heading up the well-worn stairs for a well-deserved Irish coffee. His promotion to department representative for Complaints and Correspondence had not increased his day to day workload particularly but the tedious bi-monthly meetings of the departments were sadly part and parcel of climbing the governmental ladder and Percy ached from the cold and stiffness of being stuck in the same chair for so long.
The club was moderately busy, a welcome haven for its patrons from the cold outside and the hustle and bustle of homes making ready for Christmastide. Percy chatted with Bill, the barman, for a few moments as his coffee was brought to him, before turning and scanning the room. A flash of pale blond hair caught his eye almost immediately and Percy’s eyes nearly bugged out in shock. Sitting by the fire next to Aggie and Bertie…why that couldn’t be Draco Malfoy?
Percy composed himself, remembering his surroundings and made his way towards them gratified that his seat by the fire had been left empty.
“Knitting meeting, without me?” he asked amused at the way Draco’s head whipped up guiltily, but trying to hide it. The Club had different rules than the outside world and for once it was Percy who had the higher footing.
“Perce, love! Sit down, sit down. Do you know young Draco here?”
“We were at school together.” Percy replied, aloofly.
Draco held out a nervous and, which Percy shook warmly.
“Oh how lovely! Draco only joined us this week, didn’t you, love? And he’s already interested in joining yours and Bertie’s little music group.”
“Marvellous- a tenor?”
“That’s right.” Draco looked embarrassed to have been caught out. In truth, Percy felt much the same but hoped he was hiding it better.
“We are always in need of good tenors.” Bertie told Draco earnestly, “So many men, even if they could sing Tenor, opt for bass because it is easier to do passably and blend into the background.”
“A bona tenor is always hard to find.” Percy agreed, the look Draco gave him (that of a deer in headlights) made him realise the polari had slipped out and for a moment Percy felt he wished the ground would swallow him. Retreating behind his coffee, however, his common sense returned as Aggie (bless him) steered the conversation on to the next choral club production and whether Draco might be permitted a late audition. Percy recalled the unwritten code between members and smiled to himself. Draco Malfoy, here, in Percy’s own territory, could not be a threat whatsoever. The magic of the membership system could not be fooled and Draco- Percy glanced at the man’s hand, which still wore a white-gold ring- had much more to lose from being exposed than Percy.
Although having reconciled to the idea of Draco Malfoy being a part of Percy’s Club-set, it was some weeks later before any substantial conversation took place between them. Partly this was due to the fact most corners of the club were deep in preparation for their Christmas Eve festivities, only a week or so away now, and partly this was because although Percy did not, precisely, avoid Malfoy, he did not seek him out.
Christmas Eve at the Green Carnation Club was a wonderful evening filled with laughter and rich food. The large music room was host to rows of seats as members came to watch the music group sing Christmas carols and the am-dram’s put on their revue before everyone retired to the main rooms to drink mulled wine and gorge themselves on winter treats such as minced pies, mincemeat stars, sugared fruits, chocolates and other cakes and fancies. The room was fairly bulging with guests and the aroma of rich pipe-tobaccos seemed to enhance the fullness of the room. Percy enjoyed it heartily and snagged himself a mug of hot chocolate and a minced pie before stepping out onto the balcony, which was charmed to stay as warm as the club itself.
It was a starry night, clear and sharp, foretelling a coming frost. Percy smiled to himself, thinking of the presents he’d given to people and those to his family that he would be taking to his parent’s house in the morning. The streets were dark blurs below him, people rushing about their business, muggles in their cars beyond the wizarding boundaries.
“Oh hello.” Draco Malfoy moved to join him, leaning over the balcony.
“Boyno,” said Percy, simply. Draco smiled, taking this as, if not an invitation, not a rebuffal either.
“The party’s going well, I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun.” Draco played with the glass in his hand.
Percy didn’t know what to say.
“Where did you get your membership?” Draco asked suddenly.
“Dumbledore.”
The blond man nodded absently. “Mine was from Severus.”
“Snape.”
“Yes. For a long time I ignored it. I didn’t…I’d rather he’d lived, than I got it. And anyway I thought….I never thought I could have something like this. Everyone’s been so kind but,” Draco twisted the ring on his finger, “I didn’t think that they would be.”
“Did you truly think you’d be the only one who married, here?” Percy asked incredulously, “Probably half the men in there tonight know what it feels to be as you are. I was lucky, third child.”
Draco smiled wanly, “An heir and a spare and you left free.”
Percy doubted his mother would ever articulate that concept, even to herself, but privately, viewing her pushing Bill to settle down, Percy had often wondered if that was the case.
Percy put a hand on Draco’s shoulder, and the younger man graced him with a smile. “There’s always the Club.” Percy said, because it was the only comfort he could give.
And, really, it was often comfort enough.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. If I did they'd be as queer as this. The 'Green Carnation' theme technically cannot be traced all the way back beyond a group of Parisian asthetes/uranians of the 1800s, however Oscar Wilde certainly deserves a nod for it was he who brought it over to the UK and gained it its prominance and notoriety after the events at the premier of Lady Windermere's Fan. The Club, however, is my own invention and I intend to enjoy its fictional existence for some time, myself ;)
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Comments:
Oh, I really like that. :) It's lovely and I like how they're so uncertain around each other. And Snape left Draco the membership card! *goes all gooey* I love the sadness of the ideas that you've got the heir and spare and the third goes free - and poor Draco who doesn't get that opition. Excellent universe.
yay. I'm glad you like my little queer universe :) and that it makes you go gooey ;) :D
I am SO enjoying these Green Carnations. And Percy/Draco hints and - yay :) It makes me all smily.
*grins* I'm glad. :) I'd been toying with the idea for so long it kind of grew into a whole little world in my head and I'm very glad you're enjoying them!
I like it - it's a happy piece ^^ I love it that Draco got his membership from Snape, there's a nice echo there with Percy and Dumbledore. |
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