"I would be happy to help you. I've never offered to tutor before. I've been busy and I am very blunt and clipped, so I doubt I'll be any good at it, but I will get you understanding Runes better if you can put up with me for long enough."
"I never was one for talking in riddles or beating around the bush." Harry told him.
They made it back to the manor and without saying anything, they went back inside to get drinks. Harry's hands clenched and he literally went red-hazed when he saw Pansy Parkinson all over Rabastan. So that had been her little plan, she was trying to take the man that he was betrothed to from him!
He took a deep breath and turned to accept the glass off of Marcus.
"Are you alright?"
"Parkinson is all over the man that I'm supposedly betrothed to." He said through clenched teeth. Marcus looked to where he was glaring, found Pansy trying to get close to Rabastan, and he sneered.
"You shouldn't accept that disrespect from him. She's pawing at him and he's doing nothing to stop her."
Harry growled under his breath.
"You obviously love him." Marcus said.
"I do, but he doesn't even care about me." Harry answered tightly.
"Hmm, I'd say differently if the way he's glaring at me is any indication."
"Are you sure he's not glaring at me?" Harry harrumphed.
Marcus moved to the table to pick up a different glass and then came back.
"No, definitely me." Harry became interested then and wondered if perhaps his flirting with Rowle and Marcus had worked.
"He's a fool if he'd even try to risk a true marriage with you." Marcus commented. "He should be over here beating my face in. At least that's what I'd do if our roles were reversed. You're worth a few busted knuckles if I thought that I was losing you to another man."
Harry chuckled and Marcus kissed his cheek and told him that he'd be in touch about the Rune tutoring before he left into the throng of people, leaving Harry blushing and shyly ducking his head. From the corner of his eye, he saw a furious Rabastan storming over, it seemed that Marcus' parting kiss had been what had finally, FINALLY, tipped him over the edge and got him reacting.
He was pleased and he mentally prepared himself to have this out with Rabastan so that they could get their betrothal back on track. It was long overdue and it shouldn't have taken him flirting with anyone to get Rabastan to fight for him. He should have done it because he loved and respected him and didn't want anyone speaking to or about him in such a way, because he wanted to be with him and wouldn't let anyone come between them, as Harry would do for him if their roles were reversed.
He took a deep breath and held it, getting himself into the right mindset to have this talk, or at least he was until a huge, powerful shove from behind had him flying into one of the numerous frosted glass tables. The edge of the table dug hard into his chest, but, thankfully, the table didn't break, the glass in his hand, however, shattered into several large pieces and the glass cut his hand and arm, digging in deeply as his arm was forced against the table and then the shards dragged across his skin as he slipped to the floor after losing his feet. For a wild moment he thought that Rabastan had actually attacked him, or even Rodolphus, but when he turned around, sitting on his folded knees as he tried to control his shock and the shaking that had started all throughout his body, it was to see Rowle standing over him.
"You will be mine!" He hissed. "Then you'll know how big a mistake you've made tonight!"
"In your fucking dreams, you nut job!" Harry answered back as he stood himself up, cradling his profusely bleeding right arm and locking his knees to try and stop the shaking. He felt like he was going to collapse back down to his knees at any moment.
Someone pressed against his back and an arm was wrapped tight around his waist as he was pulled back protectively, being supported and he was grateful for the hold as he knew he no longer had to fear stumbling and falling back to the floor where he'd be an easy target for Rowle. He recognised the too thin, quaking body immediately and he relaxed minutely.
"Get away from him." Rabastan growled deeply. His strong, steady voice, as always, a complete contrast to his weak, shaky body.
"Oh, now you're interested, Lestrange? Maybe you only like things that bleed. You two deserve one another, you're both insane and there must be something wrong with you, Potter to actually like a cripple!"
"Do not call him that." Harry defended easily and immediately. "Unless you want to go back into another sculpture, then we'll see who the real cripple here is."
Xerxes and Lucius were there in an instant and Lucius, when he caught sight of Harry's bleeding arm, he immediately took hold of it and raised it into the air. Rodolphus waded over, saw Harry's arm and his upset brother stood at Harry's back, an arm wrapped tight around his waist to support him on his feet and he turned around and slammed a massive fist right into Rowle's face with all the force of someone who had been aiming to hit right through the thing that they were aiming at.
Harry laughed when Rowle went flying off of his feet again, landing hard on his back. He was unconscious again and blood spurted from his mouth and nose. Rabastan's arm clenched around his waist tight from the stress of the situation and his betrothed tried to release his one arm with his other arm. Used to this happening, Harry didn't panic and he sucked in a deep breath when he was able to, not drawing any attention to Rabastan's slip up, especially not in this public situation. Instead, he patted Rabastan's cramped arm with his good one, letting him know that it was alright.
"Come, Harry. This arm needs seeing to." Lucius told him, his tone brooking no room for argument. He nodded and he wriggled out from Rabastan's hold and took hold of his hand instead, pulling him along as Lucius led them out of the Parkinson's ballroom, still holding his arm up, bent at the elbow.
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