Harry Potter had been uncomfortable at these types of parties before, in fact every time he had been to such an event, he was more than a tad out of his element. This was different though. This time the attention was focused on him.
Adults he had never met before, whose children he had never even heard of, made beelines towards him the moment Grace and he stepped through the doorway.
Hell, he was certain some of the older generation didn't even have children at Hogwarts anymore, but it didn't stop them from making idle small talk, bragging about themselves and their families, and generally trying to cozy up to him as if he was suddenly important.
And maybe, in their minds, he was. Sure, there was vague popularity before, mostly due to his 'ceremony' with the Minister at the end of his first year, but now they were all acting as though he was a celebrity.
It was oddly familiar and more than a little discomforting.
But the parents weren't the worst part, no, it was those who still went to school, those who were closer to his own age. They bragged and boasted about mundane nonsense, things along the lines of a decent grade in a certain class or working with their parents' post-graduation.
Whether it was to try and show their own competence or try and impress him for some reason the boy wasn't quite sure, but regardless, it didn't work simply because he didn't really care. He should, deep down he knew it would be kinder to show interest, to pay attention and even pretend to be impressed, but he just wasn't.
He had met those far more brilliant, met others more hard working or more loyal, those who had made a name for themselves despite family history. He had faced down monsters and Dark Lords, had met prodigies of incredible talent and skill.
For a seventeen-year-old to gloat about their parents giving them a job was almost silly.
****
While Harry certainly wasn't surprised when they were approached by a certain blonde, after all she had managed to find him during every previous gathering of the "upper class" he was a bit stunned when it wasn't just Pandora but her entire family.
"Hello Harry" The fact that the eldest daughter spoke first gave her mother a noticeable twitch, but the woman said nothing and instead forced a smile and nod towards Riddle. Cleopatra merely gave a small wave. "I trust you received my gift."
He shuffled his feet awkwardly knowing Riddle was going to hear about that soon enough whether from him or his parents. "Uh, yeah, it was definitely… unexpected."
It was, apparently, also unexpected for the girl's family as both Lucius and Narcissa glanced in her direction. "What exactly did you send him Pandora?"
"A letter stating some of my intentions mother, as any good woman does when courting a man."
Four jaws dropped, with Grace glancing between the two teenagers in question while Harry wanted nothing more than to hide in his room and never come out.
Lucius' response was a near-trembling, "Y-you…"
"Think about it my love, I hope you will have time this summer to consider your response. I'm sure I will be seeing you at least once with warmer weather."
Before anyone could give a proper, or improper response, another pair stepped into the growing drama. "Ah, Professor Riddle I see you are escorting the young Potter this evening." All turned to see Bellatrix in her usual extravagantly overpriced dress along with her daughter. "I was hoping to speak with you two concerning a few things."
Narcissa frowned before taking a step forward herself, "Sister, what are you doing here? It isn't like you to interrupt a conversation."
The elderly Black sister gave a very Slytherin smile in return, "After hearing about their night out together I insisted Delphini reintroduce me to her date. We do have much in common, after all, with my own talents in dueling as well as his own. It would be a shame if I allowed a few poor interactions to ruin any future ones."
Delphini chose to ignore the conversation between the older witches, along with the untrusting gaze of her cousin, and focused instead on the younger wizard. "Did you receive my gift?"
Once more attention shifted onto the boy, and once more he wanted nothing more than to get away from it. "Er, yeah I got a lot of them this year."
"And mine?"
It was almost dizzying how eyes swung back and forth, now onto the youngest Malfoy who seemed to notice the shift her own interruption had caused. Harry merely nodded, silently wondering if there was a way to signal his chaperone to help him escape from the brewing storm.
Bellatrix was the one to break it, "Obviously there is a hierarchy here, and as the elder sister it is my daughter who takes priority. Narcissa, you and your children can wait until we are done."
Said woman glared before crossing her arms in defiance. "As I said before Bellatrix, you are the one interrupting. Besides, in case you haven't heard Pandora is already in courtship with the boy and…"
" And nothing has been discussed or accepted." A third voice interrupted as the two older witches turned to an annoyed Grace Riddle. "Neither Harry nor his parents have made an official decision which means there will be no priorities or hierarchy. Over twenty years since you two graduated and still you bicker like children ." With the insults delivered the woman turned to her mentee, "Come along Harry, we have others who wish to speak with you about your accomplishments."
After the pair had exited the room the wizard muttered a thanks, earning a smile from the woman in response.
Meanwhile the matriarchs gave each other a final set of warning glares before departing, the rest of their families close behind.
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