"If you're sure…" said Daphne, looking at him sceptically.
"Miss Greengrass, may I have this dance?" asked Cedric Diggory, extending his hand to her.
"Of course," smiled Daphne as she let him lead her away, still looking at Dylan suspiciously. She knew something was bothering him, but couldn't put a finger on it.
Dylan was busy, trying to hold a conversation with the older generation witches and wizards who wanted meeting him, but his eyes kept wandering to where Draco and Astoria were dancing. His stomach clenched but he didn't know why. He and Astoria were best friends; that was it, right? Right? So why was he feeling like this?
Smiling stiffly at Lord and Lady Rosier who were speaking to him - rather disdainfully, in his opinion - he tried not to think about it, but it was proving to be difficult. There was only one person who could help him but it would have to wait until the ball was over.
He needed to talk to Daphne about this. Harry wouldn't understand anyway, so there was no point in even mentioning it to him. Dylan and Daphne had grown closer over the past year too. She was quite different from the emotionally detached Harry Potter, which was a good thing. She would most definitely help him here.
But another question kept nagging in his mind as his eyes trailed Draco and Astoria again. Did Astoria have a crush on Draco? That thought alone was enough to put a knot in Dylan's stomach.
...
"Ah, Harry Potter," said Lucius Malfoy smoothly as he approached the host. "This is a very impressive castle you have here."
"It is our pride and joy, Lord Malfoy," said Harry, subconsciously tightening his hold on Rigel protectively. "It was constructed a few years prior to Hogwarts, actually. Some of the wards installed by Godric Gryffindor at Hogwarts were based on those installed here at Potter Castle."
"Really?" asked Lucius, looking at Harry speculatively. "Yet some would think your family is simply overly paranoid. A stone fortress around the grounds, a magical moat around the castle and the wards themselves; a bit of overkill, in my opinion…"
Harry simply smiled slightly. "This castle is the reason the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter is not extinct when there was an attack on the family about two hundred years ago. When one has a lot of enemies, you tend to protect yourself and unfortunately, I'm as paranoid as my ancestors, having a lot of enemies myself. The confines of this castle provide me with the best protection possible."
"Indeed," said Lucius, having to grudgingly admit that the defences were very good. He still kept his eyes open for any vulnerability that could be used to exploit if the situation ever arises. "The Potter Massacre; such a horrifying and dark past which the Potters have to remember forever, isn't it? The black mark can never be erased."
"Oh, we all have some shady characters in the family tree, Lord Malfoy," said Harry with a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "And in some cases, we have some dangerous skeletons in our closet as well. Why, your family has it too, doesn't it? Oh, the horror of a pureblood Malfoy trying to curry the favour of a Muggle in order to marry her…"
Lucius' eyes were slits of fury as his upper lip curled. "Good luck with your N.E.W.T.s, Mr Potter. You'll be taking them at the end of next year, I trust? I shall be looking forward to seeing what you do with your life. Stay safe. It is not wise to remain unprotected when you are housing a dangerous target. I wonder what Rabastan Lestrange would say were he to know that his bast - ahem - illegitimate son now wears the Heir ring."
"Well, since House Lestrange would have gone extinct if not for Dylan, I would say he should be pleased," said Harry dispassionately.
Malfoy pursed his lips and nodded, walking away. He would have to explore the place to the best of his ability and find a weakness to it. Even the most heavily fortified structure had a weakness; he just needed to find it.
....
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